Graduating from high school can be a pretty emotional time, especially for teens. And in the months leading up to their big day, feelings of excitement, curiosity, and nervousness can really ratchet up their stress levels and quickly turn good moods into bad. While science has proven tasks like exercise and meditation are great ways to turn some frowns upside down, it's not always easy or accessible for students. Luckily, there's another way we can help TXGU'ers tap into a more positive outlook through the power of appreciation. 

Teaching teens the power of gratitude has proven more powerful than expected. In fact, the American Psychological Association (APA) has shown that positive thinking has a number of health benefits like decreased depression and overall negative emotions. And getting TXGU'ers on board with gratitude can be as simple as placing an appreciation jar on your desk so students have a designated place to share what's good in their lives. So now the next time a student seems to be a little blue, you'll know exactly what to do.