Joe Buzzelli spends some of his free time online.

The deadline approaches. The lack of sleep kicks in. Breathing gets harder. Somewhere there’s a cherub who is thinking maybe he should have spent less time online and more working on his story.

Deadline pressure can stress many cherubs during the intensive five-week journalism program at the National High School Institute. But cherubs found ways to relieve the stress.
 
Michael Stern, of Livingston, N.J., plays online games.

“I feel an added pressure when I am on deadline,” Stern said. “I played games on the computer such as Slime Soccer or Smashball to keep my mind off the trend story. The games helped revive this pressure.”

Josh Kriegel, of Sharon, Mass., said he considers himself a resident expert on how to manage time during a hectic cherub day.

“I save everything for the last minute so I can sleep,” Kriegel said.

Procrastinating may work for Kriegel, but it doesn’t work for everyone.

Alberto Sandoval, of Fresno, Calif., borrowed his roommate’s guitar and played it to relax.

“[Guitar] mellowed me out even when I was most stressed,” Sandoval said. “Normally, I can roll right through almost anything but the trend story was so bad that I needed something to blow off steam.”

Joe Buzzelli, of Lake Zurich, Ill., went to the movie, “The Dark Knight.”

 “The movie allowed me to take a break on a Saturday,” Buzzelli said. “I came back with fresh eyes.”

Fei Chen, of South Easton, Mass., turned to comfort food.

“I ate lots of cookies,” Chen said. “It might get me fat, but it works.”