Grief can be hard at any age, but when students who are actively participating in school experience a loss, it can be twice as difficult. When a loved one passes away and a student is still in school, papers and assignments can pile up, and it can be difficult to catch up. This causes added stress to a situation that is already hard enough as it isl
When it comes to trauma and grief in someone’s adolescent years, it can be life changing. This is because when someone is in the younger stages of life, their brain is still developing and traumatic events everything that occurs highly influences their actions, (specifically in the age range of ten years old to fifteen years old). In this stage of life, morals, ego, and certain risky behaviors develop. When a loss occurs in a family at a young age, the grief, – and certain behaviors displayed during the grieving process – may stick as the brain is still developing.
Grief is also one of those things that can make someone feel their emotions in physical ways. When a teen grieves, it can affect their sleep. T, this may cause fatigue and low energy levels, and it may even make them feel restless. This can also cause heavy feelings in the chest, tight-closed feelings in the throat, or an emotion of emptiness in the stomach. These symptoms may cause a student to miss school and take time to themselves, which is one hundred percent a valid thing to do.
Sentinel junior guidance counselor Miranda Panion states, “Yes, when a major life impact happens, we see students’ attendance and grades take a backseat to their mental health at times”. School can be a high-pressure environment; if a student is going through a rough time, it is more than acceptable to take the time to be with family.
However, at a young age, one has a responsibility to go to school and do their work. But also because students are typically in a younger age range and their brains are not yet fully developed. When a student goes through grief or a loss, it can cause issues with their motivation to do well in school. Grief can also cause difficulty with concentration and memory;, and this may result in a student’s grades dropping and cause feelings of helplessness.
Typically when there is a death in a family, a student has to miss school, creating additional stress and pressure to catch up while experiencing heavy emotions. This is another way a student may fall behind while coping with the emotions from the grieving process. However, it is also important to remember having time alone with family can be good during the grieving process, but it has to be in balance.
Impact on attendance is extremely harsh while going through tough times. While this may not be the case for every person experiencing grief out there, but it is also something that is seen quite often and is something that can be really impactful on their work and mental health because sometimes even without a major life event, school is hard enough.
When asked if missing school causes issues in catching back up in the long run, an anonymous Sentinel student said, “I would say school is hard to catch up in after missing school. I also hate missing school because of how behind I get.” High school is a fast paced environment where it can be hard even when in class, but missing class can make it even more difficult.
Anonymous also stated, “School without incidents or family death is difficult on it’s own. We have seven classes a day, and the work just piles up and the procrastination is no joke. It is hard to feel motivated to get work done”. As said by anonymous, school is difficult, and procrastination is very present. All these little factors that make school difficult and lack of motivation can cause a grieving student to burn out
When it comes to what a school can do to support a grieving student, junior counselor Mrs. Panion says, “Checking in and communicating is so important so that the student can get support, extra time, or other things to help them while they navigate this. Grief can look different for everyone and the length of time can also look different”. It is super important for teachers to understand what the student is going through as student teacher relationships are important, especially in tough times.
This is why it is important for the student to come to the staff for help. It is super helpful for students going through a tough time to know that they can go to their school staff for support. If this isn’t communicated to the teachers and counselors, they won’t know how to help and what other sources needed to continue from there. Panion also states, “It can also mean referring to community resources like Tamarack Grief Resource Center, a local office that specializes in supporting grief”.
Some people going through grief may not be willing to go out and vouch for themselves and their feelings. However, going to grief groups and talking about feelings to teachers, parents, family, or friends, about feelings can really help. It is important to know that people aren’t alone and someone is there to help, and going to these groups can be just the thing that is needed.
At Sentinel, there are counselors and teachers who care about their students and their mental health. If anyone is going through difficult times and needs help, it is encouraged that students go to teachers and counselors at school, so they know what they can do to help. it is completely valid to want assistance during a tough time.
