THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, April 14, 1995                 TAG: 9504120108
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER       PAGE: 05   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY MARSHALL J. LEATHERS, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   44 lines

STUDENTS DEVISE THEIR OWN WAYS TO RELIEVE STRESS

Labs. Reports. Grades. Basketball practice. College applications. SAT scores. ARRRUGH!

Venturing deep into the mind of the average high school student can provide a glimpse of the true meaning of pressure.

Today's high school students confront peer pressure and academic pressure on a daily basis. But area students have found a variety of ways to deal with the stress.

For some students, hobbies provide the perfect outlet for blowing off steam.

``I bang on the piano keys,'' said Danielle Griffin, an Indian River High junior and an accomplished musician. ``The harder I hit them, the more my stress is relieved.''

``Often times, when I get frustrated, I play on my drum set,'' said Lamon Cherry, a sophomore and snare drummer at Booker T. Washington High School. If the pounding doesn't help, Lamon will resort to talking it out. ``Discussing your problems helps a great deal,'' he said.

Forget the talk, other students advise.

``Sometimes I find a secluded spot and yell at the top of my lungs,'' said Alvin Georges, a junior at Indian River.

Still other students find more subtle outlets for stress.

``I like to write,'' said Deirdre Love, a senior at Oscar F. Smith High. ``Sometimes I write in my journal or I'll just write down my thoughts'' on anything that's handy.

Farriah Hicksom, an I.C. Norcom High senior, does something that lots of teenagers do anyway. ``I listen to the radio,'' she said.

And Ocean Lakes High junior Trevor Wright just tries to find a quiet spot, anywhere ``to escape the stress of everyday life.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Marshall Leathers is a junior at Indian River High School.

by CNB