Mindful mornings: Scranton High students receive weekly summer lessons on stress, anxiety coping skills
Jul. 30—SCRANTON — Sitting in the shade of maple trees, the Scranton High School students closed their eyes, took deep breaths and exhaled gratitude.
They observed the birds singing, the hum of traffic and the slight breeze on a warm day. As teen stress and anxiety grows and with greater mental health awareness, the students hope the weekly lessons of mindfulness will help both themselves and their peers.
"I'm just learning so much I never knew I needed to learn," senior George Svetovich, 17, said. "This is such a useful tool."
School counselor Christina Nasser Thomas and teacher Adam McCormick, members of Scranton High's social emotional learning team, attended mindfulness training last year through the Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit. Knowing the growing needs of their students, Nasser and McCormick knew the teens would benefit.
Members of the Knight Ambassador program learn leadership skills over the summer, and mental health became another lesson this year. About 20 students volunteer to spend Wednesday mornings learning coping techniques and stress reducers, with plans to pass the skills along to peers.
On Wednesday, facilitator and trainer Phil Sallavanti spoke about gratitude and the importance of keeping thoughts in the present. Even pre-pandemic, a growing number of schools began programs for yoga, meditation or mindfulness, the act of being fully present in the moment. With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing out mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, the emphasis on mental health has grown in schools nationwide.
"When you bring this practice into the schools, the climate, the culture of the school will change," Sallavanti said.
As compassion grows, bullying decreases. Grades rise. And the effects are felt outside school walls, too.
"The beauty in it is it's not just in the schools, it's in the community," he said.
Bubbles blown by the students this week represented thoughts. The students placed their hands over their hearts and took more deep breaths.
"Your body is feeling the stress. Your battery is being depleted," Sallavanti said. "Now you're starting to recharge your battery. ... Instead of being down to the dead zone, you're building yourself back up."
Ethan Warring, a senior, found a sense of calm this month.
"I've learned how to experience the world in a different way," the 16-year-old said. "I'm more aware of my surroundings, my relationships."
Isabel Guerra, a junior who wants to be a trauma surgeon, said the mindfulness training has already helped her during softball games.
"I have a new outlook on life," the 16-year-old said. "I look forward to this every week."
As the sun began to peek over the maple trees, the students took more deep breaths. George rang the bells, signifying the end of the morning's lesson.
"If everyone had a mindfulness training once a week, we'd be a better society," George said.
Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9133; @hofiushallTT on Twitter.
