Braving the snow is only exciting for so long. We’ve reached the point, after weeks of winter at Andover, where the snowscapes don’t seem as beautiful and snowball fights don’t seem as fun. The long hours of darkness are taking their toll on our moods, and even the short walks between classes become tiring when we have to keep bundling up against a whipping wind. Tasha Hawthorne, Instructor in English and Paul Revere Hall House Counselor, called a dorm meeting last weekend for the 44 girls in her upperclassmen dorm to address a general sense of sadness she perceived in Paul Revere. She said how this term she’s encountered more upset or crying girls than usual. “It seems to me that students are more emotional negatively, and I don’t just mean in terms of general anxiety about grades and social life,” Hawthorne said later. “Bigger issues seem to be looming.” Hawthorne continued, “What concerns me is that the students aren’t able to articulate their problems.” There are plenty of resources on campus for students who are feeling sad or depressed and want to talk with someone. Anyone can visit Graham House to meet with a professional, and there is always a psychiatrist at Isham. Even just talking with house counselors, advisors, teachers, and coaches can be helpful. All of this help is only available, however, to those students who actively seek it themselves. This is congruous with Andover’s emphasis on independence. If you fail a test, your parents won’t be looking over your shoulder, making sure you improve. If you don’t do your laundry, you’ll wear dirty clothes. If you don’t reach out for help, you could fall through the cracks. There is no way, at a school of over 1,100 teenagers, that every student can be closely monitored. Academic advisors work almost exclusively with scheduling. Coaches and teachers work with students in such limited environments that they may not notice any particular student’s shifted performance or demeanor. Especially in bigger dorms, house counselors may not have enough one-on-one time with each student to discover any problems. But that’s not to say everybody is on their own. Often faculty members will notice a student’s problem and help, either by means of conversation, alerting the student’s family, or using the red flag system. Ms. Hawthorne, for example, is arranging for a Graham House counselor to speak to the girls in her dorm about Graham House as a resource. It’s important for students to turn to an adult for help when they have problems. We know it may be easiest to turn to friends and peers, but compared to a faculty member or another adult, their lack of experience makes their help less effective for serious problems. Winter term will be over soon enough, bringing warmer temperatures and sunnier days in the springtime. Until then, try and keep your spirits up. This school will help you if you advocate for yourself, but if you have a problem, you need to reach out. This Editorial represents the views of The Phillipian Editorial Board CXXXIII.
