The pressures of the HSC present a very challenging period in the life of any teenager … Initially critical of the claimed advantages such as deep rest and its associated benefits, I was soon proved wrong, noticing improvements in my clarity of thought, ability to concentrate and study, and a deep sense of relaxation after every session. At its basic level; meditation provided me with the rest I needed to supplement a rigid routine of study, exercise and co-curricular activities. Monday night meetings also provided a nice break to escape the HSC lifestyle and to present reality again to me-something which was easy to lose sight of when I was so absorbed in my own pursuits. I sometimes wonder how I might have got through certain points in the year if I hadn’t had ‘the practice’.