by Arhana Aatresh (’23)

Mental Mettle and Musings is a column addressing current news about the brain, in the context of problems applicable to or prevalent in high schoolers, such as cognition and mental health.

Mental Mettle and Musings: the power of art

by Arhana Aatresh (’23) | April 8, 2022 The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked dialogue about the importance of art during difficult times. Isolation, lockdown, and quarantine periods have inspired people to turn to a range of artists for comfort, including musicians, visual artists, and other content creators. I certainly found solace in art by reading…

Mental Mettle and Musings: to conform or to conform?

by Arhana Aatresh (’23) | March 21, 2022 Teenagers get a bad reputation for their obsession with social status and group belonging, as well as their impulsive and temperamental tendencies; just look at every teen drama and movie! However, they should not be faulted for their brains that are literally wired differently from those of…

Mental Mettle and Musings: finding comfort in the familiar

by Arhana Aatresh (’23) | February 14, 2022 Students often find themselves mocked by the adults in their lives for enjoying the things that bring them comfort, such as music they listen to when preparing for exams, books they reread every winter break, or movies they play in the background of stressful tasks. If the…

Mental Mettle and Musings: the continual clash of sleep vs. stress

by Arhana Aatresh (’23) | November 19, 2021 Most students on campus would argue that sleep is overrated, and their concerning lack of sleep certainly proves that they are willing to sacrifice it. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a battle between students and their sleep schedules; with increased screen time and a lack of structured…

Mental Mettle and Musings: teen tension and back-to-school anxiety

by Arhana Aatresh (’23) | October 11, 2021 The return to on-campus instruction for the first time since March 2020 has brought endless challenges, especially surrounding the transition from isolation to constant academic and social engagement. While a sense of normalcy is comforting to many students, others suffer from anxiety in response to the never-ending…