Sam, a junior in high school, was concerned about the impending steps in her future. Sam’s lack of coping skills, combined with the various piles of schoolwork and activities outside of school, hasn’t helped matters. She is extremely overwhelmed, to the point where joy is her greatest enemy. The unpleasant feeling left her with no time to maintain a social life, go on vacation with friends or family, or even take a break in general, all while determining what further life-changing decisions to make.

Sam believed that because she is in 11th grade and had just one year remaining of high school, she had limited time for herself. Although she may feel this way, life is all about moving on to greater and better opportunities. The regular reminders from her loved ones didn’t help either, and the criticism of academics, becoming successful discussions, and persistent nagging about my future plans topped it all off. After seeing what her peers are capable of doing, she felt left behind, seeing how well they manage their time, how they can have a life outside of school, and, most importantly, how they plan their next steps after high school.

Sam had recognized this had been an issue for quite some time now, but had not reached her breaking point until one day while sitting in class. Sam’s eyes welled up with tears as she realized how much work she had been assigned. Sam knew it was time to make a change, so she decided to seek counseling to overcome her lack of time management. Had she used this method all along, her stress could have been relieved a long time ago, allowing her to focus on things to come rather than pressuring her current situation.