As academic and extracurricular demands continue to grow, students at Westside High School are learning techniques designed to improve focus, reduce stress and strengthen mental performance through a course called Mindset Mastery.
The course is co-taught by instructors Garet Moravec and Kirk Henningsen and focuses on helping students build mental skills they can apply both in school and in everyday life.
Moravec said today’s students face increasing pressure as sports, academics, performing arts and clubs require more time and commitment than in previous years.
Moravec said. “Everybody is having to spend more time. So I think there’s a lot of stress, a lot of overwhelm, and these tools help people to deal with that and find the balance that they need.”
The course introduces 11 research-based mental performance tools rooted in neuroscience and behavioral science. Moravec, a certified neuroscience coach, said the strategies are designed to help students understand how their brains respond to stress and how good habits can be created over time.
“These are things that have been proven through science that work and manage to change your brain,” Moravec said. “When students start to say, ‘This isn’t a character flaw, it’s just how my brain is operating,’ they begin to see how they can rewire their brain.”
Throughout the semester, students develop what Moravec calls a personal “toolbox,” selecting techniques that best help them stay calm, focused and productive. He said research shows mindfulness and similar strategies can influence how traits are expressed, helping students feel more in control of their reactions and decisions.
“When they start to see that they are emboldened to start making changes, they feel more self-empowered,” Moravec said.
Junior Christian Morris said the course has helped him improve his concentration in class and on the football field.
“I found myself more focused in classes,” Morris said. “Homework feels easier, and in sports, I’m able to pay attention, focus and just make better plays.”
He added that memory-based mental tools have helped him retain plays during games and manage multiple responsibilities more effectively.
“I think they’ll help me after high school, just in other aspects of life, like having a job,” Morris said.
Sophomore Emily Schleifer, a member of the dance team, said the class has strengthened her ability to remain calm in high-pressure situations.
“I feel like I’ve been more calm and more focused with school and in my sports,” Schleifer said.
She said one of the most valuable lessons has been learning to maintain a positive mindset during stressful performances.
“As a dancer, it’s just you against everything,” Schleifer said. “So it’s your mindset and your training — that’s what you can rely on. If you have a negative mindset, you are setting yourself up for failure.”
Schleifer said the tools she has learned can extend beyond high school and into college and future careers.
“I think that any mindset tool can help you no matter what,” she said.
Moravec said his long-term goal is to see students use these strategies to reach their highest potential, not just academically or athletically, but personally.
“I would like to see all these people achieve their greatest aspirations,” Moravec said. “I think these tools can lead them on that path.”
As students balance packed schedules and rising expectations, the Mindset Mastery course is emphasizing that mental preparation can be just as important as physical and academic training.
