A Dorset youth councillor has put together a series of videos to help teenagers deal with exam stress.
Stasia Smith, aged 15, goes to Ferndown Upper School and is a member of Dorset Youth Council. They’re a group of 11-19-year-olds who represent the views of children and young people across the county.
Run by Dorset Council and Participation People, the youth council helps shape and improve services for young people.
Stasia, a former Deputy Member of the UK Youth Parliament for Dorset, is about to sit her GCSEs and wanted to help her peers prepare for their exams. She said:
“I watched some of my older friends go through their GCSEs and I remember wondering why they were so stressed. Now that I’ve been studying for mine, I realise how stressful they are. A lot of the resources to help you get through exams are old-fashioned leaflets and often get stuffed at the bottom of the bag. I wanted to create something that was easy for young people to access at a time that suits them.”
Stasia’s videos, known as #StasiaSays, cover things like revision tips, how to stay healthy and what to do the night before. She added:
“I hope people can watch these and prepare for their exams, but also realise how important their mental health is. A little bit of stress is good, but we all need to know our limits and look after ourselves. GCSEs are important, but if you don’t get the grades you want – it’s OK. Your best is the best you can do and there are lots of different options available, whatever your results.”
Young people are now expected to stay in education or training until they’re 18, but it doesn’t have to be at school. There’s a wide range of education, work and training options available, including:
• full-time study in a school, academy, further education college or with a training provider
• full-time work or volunteering combined with accredited training
• an apprenticeship or traineeship
Stasia plans to stay on in sixth form to study Spanish and French. She hopes to work in the tourism industry.
Here are the links to her videos:
