I have something to say on a topic that is VERY important.

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>I cannot disclose the reason publicly for reasons of confidentiality. But I feel compelled to tell people:</p>

<p>Please, please, please....students.....ALL STUDENTS.....do a reality check on your feelings and ambitions. If you are under pressure to gain admission to a super elite school, tell whomever it is pressuring you, including your parents, TO BACK OFF. If you feel compelled to get straight A's and its making you miserable....then give yourself a break and do your best, but above all learn to love learning....if its too stressful...then turn down the flame. Learn to relax. Learn to find a healthy outlet for your stress and inner feelings. DONT buy into the prestige madness, or measure your own self worth by the name of the institution you attend, or even what major you select. </p>

<p>Honors Programs are prestigious but they are NOT worth the pressure if you are miserable and about to go over the edge into the abyss. Above all else, KNOW THYSELF.....to thine own self be true.</p>

<p>And if you are in deep trouble inside your heart and your head, tonight or any night, please seek help....a friend, a roomie, an RA....campus ministry, a professor, someone...anyone.</p>

<p>There is NO SHAME in being depressed, lonely, homesick and overwhelmed in school. NONE. There are people out there who love you, care about you and want you to be happy...without judging you by credentials or phony claims of prestige.</p>

<p>Give yourself some space and some liberty....to be yourself. If you aren't getting the grades in college you expected, its okay....just keep trying and work hard....but not to the point of going over the edge. Nobody is perfect. Nobody gets all the right answers. And frankly, nobody cares (that is people who really matter) what your major is or what your grades are....they only want you to be happy and successful as YOU define that term, not what society or outsiders say or expect.</p>

<p>But please, please, please seek help. Your value as a person goes way beyond your credentials, your grades, your SAT scores etc. </p>

<p>This speaks directly to why I have been on CC for so many years harping about this and trying desperately to slay the dragon of NARCISSISM AND PRESTIGE that so many here promote, as if being less than perfect is somehow a failure. </p>

<p>My heart is very heavy tonight. I pray for those suffering in the silent pain of depression, loneliness, and pressure that is unbearable. I tell you, instead, that God loves you and we all love you...as you are...for who you are...not as others expect you to be.</p>

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<p>Agreed. Don’t kill yourself to get into an elite college if the reason is just for prestige (which it mainly is). The only time this prestige element ‘helps’ is during water cooler talks. Any top 100 university nowadays has research opportunities, internships, blah blah blah. If you do well in that college, use those resources, you will be just as prepared for work as the Ivy leaguer.</p>

<p>Not to discourage people from applying to top schools, just don’t apply for the sole reason of prestige.</p>

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<p>Thanks. But its more than that. Its about people who attain high standards and results and then go over the abyss of loneliness, pressure and depression. Its crucial to be kind to yourself and true to yourself and your inner feelings, not doing what others expect of you.</p>

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<p>I totally understand. But you must realize that this is your point of view, and while I agree with it, others may not. You are saying to live your life the way you want to. But one’s goal in life could be to please his parents/gain their respect or something of the like.</p>

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<p>Its about mental health actually. And the tragedies that ensue when people are too caught up in prestige, following OTHER’s expectations and putting too much pressure on yourself and only accepting perfection in your own performance. Its a recipe for disaster. And tonight I am dealing with that indirectly about someone I know.</p>

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<p>Ah, that’s unfortunate. Tell him in a nice, more formal way, to grow some balls and stand up to his parents :D</p>

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<p>Thanks for the humor. But this isnt particularly funny. I will pm you.</p>

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<p>Agreed, ghostbuster. In a still broader context, it seems like we see almost daily the consequences of people who are seriously disturbed but who don’t seek help. There should be no stigma to getting help for mental issues, any more than there is a stigma for getting professional help with broken bones or a virus.</p>

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<p>But if you dont have any pressure that means you are lazy. I hope i can get good enough grades to get into a really good college, but now i want to go somewhere where i can have an apartment and some one had a dorm with a pool. That would be so cool. Im going to find out where it is. I wish i could get homework help here, cause theres so many smart people, but i cant. How can i know what i want to be when i grow up if you dont know anything about diferent jobs?</p>

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<p>I forgot something. Did you ever see the ghost ride the whip vids on utube? They are cool. It’s when you take your parents car and dance while the car is moving. I never saw anyone do it in real life, but the song is cool. I saved it and listen to it alot. It’s by mistah fab.</p>

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<p>You are very naive, kollegekid1. Stay that way and find something better to do with your time than ■■■■■■■■ these boards.</p>

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<p>I have always been happy to take it easy. B’s and mid tier unis suit me fine.</p>

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<p>@kollegekid ghost riding’s a fun way to test out natural selection, so is filming someone doing donuts in a parking lot… trust me, I speak from experience.</p>

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<p>Im ■■■■■■■■? I guess you are also, since the first line says to all students. Whats your beef? Im new here and i already have friends. So i dont rilly care how many posts you have, im cool even if i only have 100. And i’ll show you im a nice person even thou you are trying to be mean to me. Im going to send you a friend request, so look for it:)</p>

<p>I know DCHurricane, the ghost riding vids are crazy funny! I like the saudi street skating vid and the motorcycle vids are better than the car ones.</p>

<p>I bet alot of people here say they are smarter than they rilly are. I don’t even have a B average or i didn’t last year at least. This year I might have better grades, but i didnt think so many people got strait As. And i hate when people complain cause they only got a 98 and were expecting to get 100. I get in trouble when i get bad grades, but some people get mad when they get anything less than perfect. Some people must have rilly rilly mean parents. Im glad my parents dont make me get all As.</p>

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<p>Not trying to be mean, kid. And technically I am still a student, since I just registered for credit #290. You are off topic and hijacking a thread. Shouldn’t you be chatting about these things on Facebook or something?</p>

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<p>KK = I did a search of your posts. Go somewhere else; your presence sullies this message board. I would advise you to bother someone of equally-meagre intelligence on the Facebook.</p>

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<p>[High</a> School Life - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/]High”>High School Life - College Confidential Forums)
^kollegekid, the above link is a better place for you to be posting at this time in your life.
Your posts scream of naivety. I don’t know your age, but your posts suggest that you are a very young teenager (or pre-teen) and years away from the college application process. </p>

<p>I’m directing you to the high school forum. Come back when you’re a junior in high school and ready to begin the college application process.</p>

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<p>Ghostbuster, it is apparent from your post that you are dealing with something that is very difficult and I am sorry. I agree with what you have said in your post. Unfortunately, success, narrowly defined as admission to a “prestigious” university, at all costs is a pervasive attitude on this board and in many communities in this country. Some of the pressure comes from parents, teachers and peers. But for some kids, they put the pressure on themselves. They are just hardwired that way. Parents, teachers and guidance counselors can and should try to help these kids achieve an appropriate balance.</p>

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<p>Kollegekid is not even in high school yet! He/she should be doing something more productive than wasting time making silly posts on a messageboard dedicated to college admissions. It is obvious by the way he/she hijacked this post, dealing with a very serious subject, with ridiculous comments about a dangerous activity. Kollegekid, go outside and play, the fresh air will do you good!</p>

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<p>Ghostbuster, my heart goes out to you in dealing with, obviously, a very difficult situation. I think that you are trying to help other people, which is admirable. I hope that you can find a way to spread your message further.</p>