There are three topics teenagers are tired of hearing: what do you want to do with your life, where are you going to college, and anything related to standardized tests. The sad thing about this isn’t that we hear it so often, but how early we hear about it.
From the time I entered middle school, my teachers and parents have been drilling me on my future- particularly college. It’s crazy to me how early students, including myself, start to stress about college, and worry if they’re doing enough to be successful. This isn’t specific to me, however. According to U.S. News, colleges are starting to recruit middle school students for their colleges, which gives those stressed students a reason to worry.
Freshman and sophomore year is worse than middle school. By freshman year, some schools already have students practicing application essays and making sure students have the classes they need to be successful in the college application process. I know that during my freshman and sophomore years I was constantly trying to keep my grades high in order to keep myself in good standing when it came to college.
The college application process is very demanding and during junior year everything builds up quickly. By the fall of junior year colleges already want students to have visited their campus, to have taken the ACT or SAT and PSAT, and to have already been involved in several different activities. I am ahead of many of my peers in that I have already visited several colleges this past summer, and have participated in many activities. However, I still haven’t taken any standardized tests.
This time is very stressful, especially for students, like myself, who feel like they are spreading themselves very thin between class, activities, friends, and family. Sharon Sevier, a high school guidance counselor, told U.S. News that more students have increased mental health issues.
The college process has also taken a sense of childhood away from students. The pressure to not mess up is overwhelming. I find it hard to relax and realize that I’m going to be alright despite the outcome. Part of this comes from my drive, which I am terrible at shutting off. I have always set high goals for myself, which is also why college has such a huge influence on me and my choices. If someone tried telling me to calm down about college I would probably tell them to back off and let me be. I can’t change how I deal with college this late in the game.
Students need to know that high school is about balance. There are students who don’t involve themselves with anything and don’t prioritize school. That’s their prerogative. There are students that stress too much about school and don’t take the time to enjoy the high school experience. I won’t make a hypocrite of myself and say that those students are in the wrong either. However, I will say that finding a balance is crucial to being successful in both education and life. Make sure that you can always step away from school and say, “I tried my best, that’s all that matters,” but also make sure you do all you can to further your education. Make sure you have good friendships that you can depend on, but also realize when it’s time to focus on other things.
I grew up being told that high school is supposed to be the best and least stressful years of your life, but this isn’t true for many students. Part of the reason this isn’t true is that being in high school now is very different to how it was for our parents or grandparents.
“‘Young people are expected to be measurably productive in a way that we only expected adults to be.’” Mitchell Stevens told U.S. News.
There is no doubt in my mind that college is rewarding, but the stress of it can have effects on students that are hard to shake.
