Phillip's Goals and Stress Story

Phillip went to school prepared to face the day. "I can do this." he thought. As he entered the school building, he saw students running around everywhere. He got out his paper that showed him which class to go to first. His hands were a bit shaky but he took a deep breath and let it out slowly telling himself he was going to be ok. He had worried about meeting friends since it was the middle of a school year and most students would have already been settled in with their friends. You see, Phillip was new to the school. His family had just moved into town and was not to sure what to expect. Down the hallway was his first class. He straightened his backpack on his shoulder and headed for it. As he walked in he could feel some of the students staring. Others didn’t care and kept talking. “Class, Settle down. Take your seats” The teacher called. It was good to have familiar rules at each school. Everyone sat and he headed for the seat that didn’t have anyone in it. The teacher saw him and called him back to the front. This was a familiar thing too but not one he enjoyed.

“Introduce yourself and tell us a bit about you.” the teacher said. phillip placed his backpack down and went to the front and told the class a little about himself and where he was before. This continued in each of his classes always the same thing going to the front reintroducing himself to some of the students and others introducing himself. He was not one for giving speeches and used he would shake but he was getting familiar with the patterns of each school.
"Ha, well if I didnt know who I was before I am sure I do now. Having to repeat my life how many times?" he wondered iin his head.

During a break he wondered what it would be like if the class was the one that introduced instead of him. A few guys came over and talked to him that were from the football team. He tossed a ball around with them for a bit before break was over and decided to try out later for the team. However he started to realize his catch-up work was adding up. Even though he had a couple of weeks to play catch-up , he had a lot to do. He was not sure he could handle doing football on top of catching up but he didn’t want to miss out on making friends. So after school he headed into the field putting aside his work.

On the field he had a blast and met a few more good guys. They invited him out to get a bite to eat. Surely that couldn’t hurt he thought. By the time he got home it was 7:30pm his parents were upset because he hadn’t called and he got a talking to for that. He went upstairs to start on his work when he mother yelled for him to come down and get some boxes out of the car and take them to his room. They were still moving stuff in. He ran down and took each box (there was five of them in total) into his room. “Don’t forget to unpack and hang your clothes up tonight.” His mother yelled up to him. “I don’t want to go in there and see it not done. “ He sighed and quickly unpacked his clothes. “Are you hungry? Supper is a bit cold you can reheat it. We didn’t know you were not going to come home until later so we made an early supper. It is in the microwave if you want it.” His mother called up again. “K, Thanks mom” Phillip sighed and pulled his history assignments. He had over five report papers to do, end of the chapter reviews and he would be doing test catch-ups in the next few weeks. So he needed to study. “Son, don’t stay up late. We have to get up early and drive by the store to help Dan.” His father said.
Phillip had forgotten about that. He was supposed to go to a warehouse at five am and help unload truck before school. He looked at the clock it was now 9:30. "Where did the time go? he questioned already knowing the answer. " "In fact if you are not going to eat you should go to bed now.” His dad yelled up at him. “How was your day?”

Phillip sighed again. I can’t study and think while answering all these questions and sleep all at the same time. “It was fine. I am really tired I think I am going to study for a small bit then go to bed” He called down to his parents. “You didn’t study earlier???” his mother questioned. “No, mom I joined the football team” he could hear his father say to his mother “That is my boy” then his father yelled up. “I am proud of you son. You know what you want and you go for it.” He knew the speech that would come next about how when he was younger and in the football teams. So he stopped his father by yelling back. “Night Dad! Night Mom! I will see you bright and early in the morning."

He started to write one of the history papers. He wrote and wrote not paying attention to the time. By the time he was finished with his first draft he looked at the time. 11:30pm. I should go to bed he thought but I think I will just go ahead and do one chapter review in the history book. That one chapter turned into three chapters. He still had quite a few to go but at least those were finished. He was going to lie down and sleep when he looked at the time. 2:00 am. I won’t be able to get up if I sleep now so instead he started another history report. At 4:00 he took a shower to try and help him stay up and 4:15 he was dressed and ready to go. I will take a nap later today he thought. He was a bit proud that he accomplished what he had done in his history work yet he was very tired. He worked at the warehosuse until it was time for school. Then he started another day in school. Almost every teacher assigned another report paper which just added to all the other ones he needed to do. He was having a hard time focusing because of being so tired. He kept yawning and he felt slightly embarrassed when he seen a girl was watching him. During break he leaned against a tree to close his eyes a bit but that was soon interrupted by his new friends telling him to go with them to toss the ball around. At first he said no but they talked him into it. So off he went to play ball. He couldn’t wait for school to be over so he could go home and nap. As he was dreaming of how lovely that nap would feel, he closed his eyes and sat in his last class dreaming and litterly jumped when the bell sounded. He grabbed his stuff and bolted for the door. As Phillip was about to leave his friends called him. “Where are you going?” “Home” He replied as he was almost to the pavement outside. “Football practice!” They reminded him. He debated on saying he could not make it but he knew that you really cant miss any practices or the coach would be upset and think you are not in it to win. Off he trudged to the field with his new friends.

“You ok?” His dad asked as he got home later that afternoon.” Yeah I am just a bit tired. Hey I think I am going to take a nap can you wake me in a hour and a half?” His father smiled and nodded. He went up stairs to his room. And laid down. Two minutes later his mother knockson his door and walks in with a pile of clothes that just went through the washer.” I need you to go take out the trash. How was your day. You look ill are you ok?” “Yes I am ok, I am just tired. Can I take the trash out a bit later?” At first his mother was going to protest but then she looked at him and felt his forehead as if he was sick. “Sure” she walked out of the room. At last peace and quiet he thought. But that was cut short for not more then a second after he laid down and closed his eyes when he heard his mother yelling “Phillip the phone it is for you.” He went out and answered the phone. "Hello?.....Oh Hey!!! It is so good to hear from you..." It was his friend from the town before this one. He talked to him telling him about the new school, all the work he still had to do and about the team and people he met. He got off the phone and it was supper time. After supper he went up stairs and said I am only going to take a thirty minute nap he thought setting his alarm clock. As he fell asleep he started dreaming about being late, to work, late turn in home work, late to getting to football practice, late to getting home.” He woke in a panic and looked at the time. 6:07 am. He had slept the night away.

Can you see what his goals were? Can you see if he was stressing? How can you tell?

His Goals:

Meet new friends - He did this and proceeded to keep up with it by joining the football team
Catch-up homework- We can see him start to try this. He pulled a all nighter to try and get as much don as possible
Unpack- maybe not his highest priority but his mother is not going to let him slack on this goal
Study- of course he hasnt had much time to study other then doing catch-up. Even at that he hast tests coming up in the next few weeks.

Stresses:

Starting a new school
Meeting new friends
Introducing himself in front of others
Catch-up work and new work added
Time to balance football and catchup work together.

How would you feel in this situation? Would you change something differently?

Well this is not the end of phillips story. Nope this is only the beginning so come back tomorrow to see if he finishes his goals or if he lets stress take over and if that is the case what he may do to cope with it.

See you then

~Hugs Keyria~


For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29: 11-