How do you handle yourself under stress?
"When I feel my heart racing and my shoulders hunching, I know that I'm stressed and I tell myself to take a deep breath. Then, the first chance I get, I stretch my arms and legs out as far out as I can and think about a small treat that I'll let myself have once I get out of work. I picture it in my mind and smile. I take another deep breath and then I get through the rest of my day with a smile, knowing that whatever happens, I'll have that treat waiting for me."
This is a great time to give an example of a time when you overcame a very stressful situation.
"A couple of months ago we had a situation where one student had a complete breakdown in class. I was able to remain calm by following our program's protocol and taking the appropriate steps to ensure the safety of the student and everyone in the classroom. I am generally quite good under pressure and even better when I feel well equipped to manage the situation."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I take a deep breath and pause for a second when I'm dealing with stress. If I can, I walk away for a few minutes to clear my head. If I can't take a break from the situation, I just remind myself to breathe and think about the overall picture and how everything will work out in the end. I had to do this many times during college.
Rachelle's Feedback
It sounds like you are level headed, for sure! When it came to managing stress in college, feel free to elaborate on the situations you were in and the methods you used to cope with.