Little furry friends help students control stress during exam week

Oakbrook Preparatory School students got some relief from exam week stress with help from some four-legged friends Tuesday.

The school partnered with the Spartanburg Humane Society to bring dogs, puppies and kittens to campus during Advanced Placement exams. Students were able to hold, pet and play with the animals during their free time.

“I think everyone’s kind of freaking out a bit,” said Hadley Hudson, a sophomore soccer player. “It’s good for everyone to take some time and not worry about exams and relax for a little while.”

Hudson, one of many high school students taking AP exams this week, had already taken her psychology and U.S. history tests.

Angel Cox, CEO of the Spartanburg Humane Society, said animals have been proven to reduce anxiety, especially in students.

“It’s just a terrific stress reliever,” she said. “Dogs in general, cats in general, they bring your blood pressure down, they help even out your temperament. They can just make a bad day really turn around.”

Dylan Mittag welcomed the break from a busy week. Mittag, a senior, is going to Princeton in the fall.

He said he was glad to just relax for a bit.

“I think it’s good because I often just lose focus,” he said. “You’ll get into readings and stuff and you won’t remember how good life can be or how simple life can be. Petting a dog can just be very cathartic.”

Follow Zach Fox on Twitter @ZachFoxSHJ

This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 9:38 PM with the headline "Little furry friends help students control stress during exam week."