High schoolers in the new age are under pressure in the college and career race, something we haven’t seen before.
By Carlos Soto-Angulo
For some, high school is no longer just about finding yourself, creating life-long bonds or navigating different experiences or identities. For many high school students, these four years have become a high-stakes launchpad into the ever-dreaded “real world–” one that demands college-level achievements well before we take our diplomas and walk across the stage.
The pressure to exceed academically, succeed in multiple extracurriculars, and not to mention, curate a Harvard-worthy resume, has created a culture where the typical high school experience is transformed into a stress-ridden pursuit of perfection. Students aren’t just preparing for college and future careers, they’re entering a constant competition for the next “big thing,” sometimes at the cost of their well-being.
The students of today are expected to be future-focused almost as soon as they enter freshman year–mind you, they’re 14 years old. Bombarded with SAT prep courses, Advanced Placement (AP) classes and leadership roles make sleep a luxury nearly worth gold. The constant need to stand out for selective colleges and future employers means engaging in exhaustive schedules that can burn out even the most resilient students. According to a collection of student stress statistics by Cross River Therapy, 45% of high school students report feeling overwhelming stress, with academia topping the list of culprits.
The college admissions landscape is largely to blame for this intense focus on accomplishments over experiences. Colleges are being more selective, and acceptance rates are the lowest they’ve ever been. In fact, according to Signature College Counseling, college acceptance rates have dropped about 37 percent on average over the past ten years, so it’s no surprise students feel compelled to pad their applications with as many APs, extracurriculars and volunteer work as possible. Even worse, some students feel the pressure to manufacture interests to fit the molds that hyper-selective schools seem to expect, and in doing so, they lose sight of their own goals and desires.
And it isn’t just college. Career anxiety is starting to creep up on us high school students early as well, with students often feeling pushed toward high-paying or “prestigious” careers before they even understand what that entails.
In a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, nearly 60 percent of high school students reported feeling pressure to pursue “practical” or “high-earning” careers, regardless of their interests, which often begins as early as middle school. This pressure is fueled by societal expectations, family hopes and national discourse that often treats certain careers as the only pathways to success. Some schools even encourage students to declare future career interests, leading students to feel locked into paths they probably don’t yet understand or genuinely want to pursue.
This relentless focus on the future often deprives high schoolers of the present. Time stressing over tomorrow’s opportunities robs them of the chance to live and learn today. Students report less sleep, fewer hours spent with friends and family, and little time for simple, restful activities (such as Skate 3).
It’s not uncommon to hear students joke–and I’m guilty of this as well– that they “only slept three hours last night,” or “live off coffee,” as if overwhelming exhaustion is a badge of honor. No guys, it’s an unhealthy normalization of overworking–a mentality that high schoolers should push themselves beyond the breaking point to make their dreams come true. But dreams achieved at the cost of mental and physical health are hollow victories–not to mention the fact these dreams may not even be theirs.
High school should be a place where students feel safe to explore their passions without the looming fear that impending failure will dictate their entire future. Yes, the future is important, but the present shouldn’t be robbed of them to prepare for it.
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