Managing Stress as a Young Student

Nisha Agarwal was a bright student—but stress dimmed her spark. Between exams, tuition, social pressures, and family expectations, she started experiencing anxiety and sleepless nights. Her grades dipped, and so did her self-worth. One day, her school organized a mental health workshop. It was the first time she heard about breathing techniques, journaling, and mindfulness. Intrigued, she downloaded a meditation app and committed to a 10-minute routine daily. The results were subtle but life-changing. She learned to pause, breathe, and step away from toxic self-talk. She also started a “worry book,” where she wrote all her fears to externalize them. By 12th grade, she was not only back on track academically but had also become the school’s mental health ambassador, organizing peer support circles. Now in college, she volunteers with an NGO that conducts mental health awareness in schools. “Stress doesn’t vanish,” she says. “But once you learn to manage it, you realize—you’re stronger than your storms.”