One thing I have learned is that there is a certain amount of stress that is required to cause someone to be successful. If a student is in a school situation where there is absolutely no stress created by challenge or competition, then the student will have nothing to "rise to". A certain level of stress is necessary to bring out the best in people. As instructors, we should always try to alleviate the negative stress, and reduce the amount of unrealistic stress on our students. But we should also strive to encourage a positive reaction to the stress that Should exist in a classroom. Every student needs to understand that college is supposed to be a preperation scenario for life in the industry of their studies. If college is too easy, we are setting our students up for failure in their chosen field. Obvoiusly the opposite is true as well... if school is too hard, the students will give up trying due to being overwhelmed. However, as facilitators of LIFE education, instructors in college situations need to make sure that the students understand that life is difficult. Life is stressful. And it is better for students to learn these lessons in school, which is a safer environment, and where there are teachers and support personnal to assist them, than to "skate" through college, only to "Hit a Wall" once they graduate and realize that there ARE challenges out there. There IS competition for Everything! People are going to stress you out, just for the purpose of watching your reaction, because they enjoy it. So, as teachers, we need to educate our students about the reality of stress, and assist them in overcomming it. NOT try to eliminate it!!!!!