The Burning Question: Do you get worried or stressed?

I'm A stress-free person. September 11th and events which have happened in the aftermath never worry me. I watched the Americans and the bombing campaign on TV but it all seems so far away and that makes it seem unreal. I never worry about school marks or work - I am a very chilled guy. Listening to U2 is what I do to relax but I don't need it to de-stress me.

School stresses me out. With the Junior Cert this year I feel I'm being pressured to study by some teachers who try frightening you. I also put pressure on myself. Then again, I think how much worse other people have it, like those kids going to school in Holy Cross had an awful time. Sometimes I worry about somebody mugging me for money for drugs.

I'm worried about if a nuclear war happened because it would be out of control. I would be worried about what would happen to the rest of the world. Normally, living out in the country, you think nothing can ever touch you. Sometimes schoolwork stresses me but I have worked hard. All the celebrity stuff to calm you like yoga or feng shui is rubbish.

Afghanistan on the news worries me. What if we got involved? That would freak me out. As for the Junior Cert, parents and teachers put pressure on you, but I think peer pressure to do as well as your friends is the worst. There's always scares, like some food gives you cancer or something, but I just go for a walk in the country and don't pay attention to that.

The September 11th disaster was worrying. My sister lives near New York but she was fine. I am young, so I think I'll live forever. I am happy enough about how things are going for the Junior Cert. If I'm a bit stressed I just have a lie down. Pets are supposed to help with stress, but my dog got killed on the road - that upset me too much to get another.