School Stress

Colby Knightly, Weston Kicklighter, Trevor Hernandez, Gabe Garingo, Alec Sandez

Noah Oliver Smith - Trevor

Noah Is struggling to live up to his parent's expectations, and because of this he works hard studying late into the night to

not let them down. He is friends with James who has a similar stressful life that has been hurting their mental health and

together they tried finding ways to deal with it on their own.

Jack Smith - Colby

Jack is a very hard-working lawyer whose job weighs on him heavily. He confuses success with happiness and puts lots

of pressure on his kids to do well in school, as his dad did to him. He is a very high-strung person due to his work, and

can sometimes snap at his kids or wife a little bit. He is proud of his son Earl, but he sees Noah’s bad grade as him being

ungrateful for the work he put in for his kids to have great futures, and he wants Noah to be more like Earl.

Earl Smith -Alec

Earl is Noah’s brother in medical school and is hardworking and dedicated but doesn't spend enough with his family he is

still calm and collected and very supportive of his little brother and he actively roots for his brother and is very supportive

of him

James - Weston

Football jock who is under the stress of being a star football player. His mom left when he was 12 and his dad is one of

those abusive sports parents. He has a loud charm to him, he hides how much pressure he's under and the anxiety it

causes him. Noah’s friend who often talks about his problems with

Counselor Mr. Young - Gabe ( ꈨຶ ˙̫̮ ꈨຶ )

Mr. Young is a teacher whose dream is to become a fun and lovable teacher in a prestigious private school. Instead, he

was placed in a counselor job at an average public school surrounded by students who didn’t care about him. Mr. Young

puts little effort into his job because his dream was crushed. At his job, he always seems tired of his job and has no

emotion. He seems bored half the time and sometimes doesn’t pay attention. The actor who plays Mr. Young may fidget

with objects or lay his head on his fist during the play.

1
(starts outside counselor's office)

Mr. Young

Nice to meet you.

Noah

Hey Mr young, Dad he's my counselor

Earl

Where should we sit?

James

Hey pssst

Noah

Huh, Necesitas algo?

James

¿seguimos haciendo este trato?

Noah

Perdon no puede ahora I've got this conference so can we do it after this

James

Nah, don't even worry man I got it, Iré solo

Noah

Are you sure you can pull that off?

James

Yeah, this guy is legit, so I'll be fine I swear.

Noah

Just make sure it's not the same type of stuff that Hayden overdosed on, OK.

James

Don't worry, He was getting shady stuff off the street. Trust me, these ones are fine cause the guy finds those conscripted
ones

Noah

You mean prescription

James

Yeah conscripted means they like official or something so we’ll be fine.

Noah

Alright man, if you say so. Te vere despues de esto

Stage directions

Noah enters the room

Earl

Un compañero de clase

2
Noah

SI mi amigo James

Earl

Que necesitaba

Noah

He, needed some, uh notes for our Spanish test.

Mr. Young

Hola, Puedes llamarme Mr.Young, y usted es?

Jack

I’m Noah’s dad Jack. Mucho gusto.

Mr. Young

Usted también, señor Smith, y él es. (gesture towards Earl)

Jack

This is my eldest son, Earl. He's here from college.

Earl

Hi Mr. Young, Nice to see you again.

Mr. Young

Oh, Earl cómo te va, no podía reconocerte

Earl

Bastante bien, con la universidad y todo

Mr. Young

Well, that's great, I wanted to have this conference due to some of Noah's recent behavior.

Jack

Why what’s wrong?

Mr. Young

Well, Noah’s teacher has told me that he has been quiet and withdrawn in class and seems to avoid talking to classmates

Jack

¿Eso es todo?

Mr. Young

Well, Noah's teacher also reported him sleeping in class and several late assignments.

Jack

Noah!

Noah

Yeah, I have a few assignments missing right now Dad, but trust me I can get them done really quick.

Earl

Well, he's always been a quiet kid, I don't understand why he would be falling asleep or missing work.

Mr. Young

He’s a great student but his recent performance started to have an effect. In Noah’s case, It’s bringing his grade down
quite a bit.

Earl

Oh, well it can’t be that bad. Noah’s always been a good student.

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Stage Directions

(Young pulls out a binder and flips through pages while muttering Smith)

Mr.Young

Let’s see. So for Spanish, he has an A-, for Math, he has an B+, for History, he has a D+…

JACK

A D/?!?!??!?

Noah

Wait Dad it's not that big a deal

EARL

Calmate Papa, I'm sure he will fix it.

Jack

Noah, what do you have to say for yourself?

Noah

It’s not my fault I swear. What’s been happening is- (cut off)

Jack

What do you mean it’s not your fault? I work all day to provide for my family and this is the thanks I get?

Noah

I'm sorry I am trying my best

Earl

Dad, you don't have to put so much pressure on him.

Jack

Nononono. I'm not gonna work every day so Noah can slack off in class! Why can’t you be more like your brother Earl?

Noah

I'm not gifted like he is Dad. I hate when you hold us to these expectations.

Jack

Well nothing’s stopping you- (cut off)

Mr. Young

Mr. Smith, there are reasonable explanations for Noah’s recent behavior such as anxiety or stress.

Jack

Oh please Mr. Young, do you really believe in those weird hippie psychology theories?

Earl

Dad, mental health is real. Studies show that mental health effects-

Jack

Oh please.

Mr. Young

See even your son thinks it’s real.

Jack

Back in my day, we didn't have anyone claiming they had “anxiety” or “depression” and I turned out just fine.

4
Noah

Not everyone can be a soulless machine like you dad

Mr. Young

Noah, please don’t talk about your dad like that.

Jack

Do you know how much me and your mother have worked and sacrificed to help you two have good futures just for you to
slack off?

Noah

Slack off? Are you kidding me

Jack

Look at Earl, he never had any problems.

Earl

Dad, you don’t need to compare me and Noah.

Mr. Young

Actually, Mr. Smith, Earl came to talk to me many times during his years here. We talked about his mental health many
times.

Noah

Earl?

Jack

Earl, why didn’t you tell me?

Mr. Young

Becau- (cut off)

Earl

because I wanted you to see me as the perfect son you always wanted me to be.

Jack

But you’re fine now, right?

Earl

Dad, that's not the point. I’m fine but this isn’t about me, it’s about Noah.

Noah

Of course, that's all you pay attention to Dad can you just listen to me for a minute, All this extra work is too much for me

Jack

All that extra work is what's gonna give you a future so if you don't like you can go live on the streets where you'll end up
anyways

Mr. Young

Mr. Smith and Noah please, you both need to calm down-

Noah

You know Dad! this is exactly why I've been having such a hard time. You're always putting the pressure of the world on
me. Neither you nor Mom ever even ask how I am all you care about is how my grades are.

Jack

We want you to have a future, Noah. Colleges won't care how you feel, they care about how your grades look

Noah

5
Yeah yeah yeah cause all my problems would be solved by getting a degree and some fancy job. Have you ever even
thought about what I want to do?

Jack

Yeah Yeah Yeah? You can't talk to me like that. I'm just trying to look out for you we have only ever wanted what is best for
you

Noah

If you wanted what was best for me you would listen to me when I try to tell you that I'm having a hard time. Do you know
how much stress working and studying late at night has given me? Do you know why I fall asleep in class and why I’m so
quiet? It's because I'm depressed and anxious.

Jack

I uh…. Well I u- (cut off)

Mr. Young

`Mr. Smith! ¿Ves ahora lo que Noah esta tratando de decirte!? I think we should start discussing the next steps for Noah.
Is that fine with you?

Jack

Yes that’s fine

Mr. Young

Earl I would like to get your opinion on some of these as a med student

Earl

Yes there are a few options I had in mind

James

Knocking on the window, Waving at Noah through the Window*

Noah

(Coughs while drinking water) Um I need to go to the bathroom, can I go

Mr. Young

Sure that's fine Noah I'll have Earl fill you in you can step outside

Stage Directions

(Noah leaves)

James

How’s it going, man? Tough conference?

Noah

Yeah, my dad was being such a pain.

James

I know what you mean, with the team and my dad always putting so much pressure on me it stresses me way out.

Noah

Same, yeah both my parents are always breathing down my neck, it's my dad especially though.

James

Man, we both have pretty sucky parents huh?

Noah

Yeah I mean after what just happened, They finally might start listening to me so things won't suck so much.

James

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¿Qué quieres decir?

Noah

No importa, so what did you need

James

Oh yeah, guess what I got?

Noah

Yah?

James

Well…He gave me these, said its Adderall, supposed to help you focus

Noah

Yeah okay, where did he get them from?

James

He works at his dad's pharmacy, they get a lot of ADHD meds so a few missing bottles won't be noticed. Took a few and
never felt better here. (offers bottle)

Noah

You know I'm starting to think that

James

Think what?(shake bottle)

Noah

This might not be a good Idea

Jame

Hey man don’t back out on me now this cost me 80 bucks!

Noah

Yeah I know but this doesn't seem right

James

What do you mean doesn't seem right! Ridiculous!

Stage direction

(James goes bye bye angry)

(Noah walks back inside)

Mr. Young

So how does that sound so far

Earl

Great

Mr. Young

I think we've talked about a lot today I want to see you back in a week

Jack

Thats fine (grumpy)

Mr. Young

How's that sound Noah (gesturing to Noah)

Noah

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Yeah we can bring Mom next time, talk with both of you

Jack

(sight)

Earl

(clear thought) Thank you for everything Mr. Young

Mr. Young

And you, for taking the time for this conference

Jack

Yes it was uh nice speaking with you

Mr. Young

So is there anything else you want to talk about Noah

Noah

No, but thanks for doing all this for me

Mr. Young

No problem Noah

Stage directions

The family leaves but Noah packs a bag

Jack

Hurry it up, Noah

Noah

One sec Dad! Actually Mr. Young I’m worried about my friend James can I come back later

The End