Olivia Johnson

Okay, let me start by saying this: breathing is something we literally do all day without thinking about it.  Like, if you’re reading this, congrats—you’re already breathing like a pro.  But here’s the part no one really tells us: the way you breathe changes everything. I’m talking mood, energy, focus, even how your body feels.  When I first heard that, I rolled my eyes.  I mean… how is breathing going to fix my stress over finals, or the fact that I have no energy in the morning?  But once I...

Why Talking to Your Teachers Is Important As a high school student, I’ve learned that life doesn’t slow down just because we’re busy.  Between classes, homework, extracurriculars, and things going on at home, it can all start to pile up.  Sometimes, it feels like everything is happening at once, and even though I want to push through, my mind and body tell me I need to step back.  That’s when I realized it’s okay to ask for a break—and even more important, it’s okay to communicate that need...

My Tips for Handling Test Anxiety as a Teen Test anxiety is something so many of us deal with, even if we don’t always talk about it.  It’s that nervous, heavy feeling in your stomach when you think about an upcoming test—the racing thoughts, sweaty palms, or the voice in your head telling you you’re not ready, even if you’ve studied.  I’ve been there more times than I can count, and over time, I’ve learned some ways to handle it that have made a big difference for me. The first thing I want...