A bench on North Hillside Avenue in Chatham is carrying a simple message for overscheduled teenagers: it's okay to stop.

Hana Daya, a 13-year-old Chatham student, placed her "Place to Rest" bench on the public sidewalk after Mental Health Month in May, aiming to give teens a physical reminder to pause between honors classes, sports practices, and weekend games. The bench sits on a public street, accessible to any area teen walking by.

"I wanted to show that it's okay to rest, and it's really important to your mental well-being," Daya said. "In the winter, I had the musical I was in and homework; there would be a lot going on, and it's hard to find a moment."

The initiative caught the attention of Krissantonia Kerr, Chatham Township's health educator. Kerr hosted a 40-minute Chat 'N Chew session on relieving stress for young adults and teens at the Library of the Chathams on Wednesday, July 8. Daya attended the session and afterward invited Kerr to visit the bench in person.

Daya said the teens she knows in Chatham are "scheduled to the max." She listed soccer, volleyball, basketball, field hockey, and track as the main after-school sports, with practices during the week and games on weekends. Some students also attend church on Sundays.

The academic load matches the athletic one. Chatham High School, which enrolls approximately 1,200 students in grades 9-12, offers 30 Advanced Placement courses, according to the school's 2025-26 profile. Over 94% of the Class of 2025 went on to four-year colleges. The school's counselor-to-student ratio stands at 151-to-1.

Daya described the idea in concrete terms: the bench represents taking a break, a spot where someone can sit and collect themselves for a moment. She said the project grew out of watching her peers race between commitments with no built-in downtime.

Her own schedule drove the point home. Balancing the school musical, homework, and daily routines left little room to breathe during the winter months. The bench is not a school district program. It's one student's answer, placed where anyone can use it.

Daya said stepping back is part of staying balanced. "I want to let people know it's okay to take a break," she said. "It helps me balance things."