Sink or Swim- the Reality of How Teens see High School

Sink or Swim- the Reality of How Teens see High School By Camryn Bland Youth Columnist Most teenagers believe high school is the most stressful experience they will ever endure. Of course, that opinion usually changes when they hit university, and then when they get a full time job, and then when they have to tackle their own family. However, until adolescents graduate high school, nothing will compare to the struggles of secondary education. Trying to balance culminating projects, final exams, extracurricular activities, and a personal life can be a huge challenge, and often I fear it is too much to handle. My educational anxiety is mostly my own doing, as most of my daily stressors are ones I have put on myself. I may not choose to take final exams, but I do choose to participate in multiple extracurriculars, take classes which are more intense, and volunteer to help with extra work. This is because I am one of the teenage oddities who enjoys school, at least for the most part. I enjoy going to elective classes of my choice, which are usually focused on humanities, language arts, and performance arts, opposed to science or technology. I am a dedicated student, with a final grade of 90% or higher in every one of my classes. During my grade 10 year, I participated in 7 extracurricular activities, ranging from pro/con debate, to morning badminton, to a musical theater ensemble. Overall, I see high school as a great opportunity to try new things, learn what interests you, and make connections. It is a place to make friends, to decide who you want to be, and to experiment with what you want to do for the rest of your life. When put that way, high school sounds like a fantastic experience which every teen will enjoy. Unfortunately, that is not the full high school picture. Although it may be enjoyable, it is also extremely overwhelming. Since I began ninth grade, I have grown to be a perfectionist, aiming to be the best in every one of my classes. When thinking rationally, I know this is not always realistic, especially while also juggling 7 extracurriculars. However, I pressure myself anyways, and continue to do whatever it takes to reach 100%. Sometimes this pays off, and I reach my goals; other times, it’s extremely damaging to my mental health. When my grades aren’t as good as I hoped, when I get an 80% instead of a 90%, it feels like an attack on my self esteem. This isn’t just an isolated issue of mine; almost every student feels overwhelmed by their workload, even if they don’t experience the same perfectionism. Maybe it’s due to that one concept in class they just don’t understand, or perhaps they have an unpleasant teacher. Possibly, the student has a learning disability, or they just have no interest in the classes they are taking. No matter the reason, high school is something most teenagers dread on a daily basis. They skip class, beg their parents to stay home, and take mental health days, all so they can avoid the anxiety of being in a classroom, at least for one more day. Academics are not the only stressors for students. In addition to juggling assignments and extracurricular activities, teens are also figuring out who they are as individuals, and navigating a complicated social life. Adolescence is a crucial period for developing a sense of self and identity. It’s when individuals are forced to answer the question, who am I? What makes me happy? What motivates me? As teens develop their sense of self, their social life is affected. They may find new friends, or old ones may drift away. Every day, friends fight, young couples break up, and rumors get spread. It’s a time when everything feels uncertain, and everything is anxiety-inducing. All of these struggles then cause teens to turn away from exciting opportunities. A student hates their classes, so they don’t care to expand their learning. They are mentally drained at the end of the day and just want to go home, so they miss opportunities to see their friends. They fear failure, so they don’t try out for any teams or clubs. These issues may seem mundane, but altogether, they create a continuous cycle of anxiety and disappointment. Daily life can feel like sink or swim, and most students are just treading water. Finding the balance between academics, extracurriculars, self identity, and a social life can feel difficult, but it’s a crucial step for every teenager. Only with this balance will secondary education reach its full potential as a place to learn, make friends, and find yourself.