I was sitting here thinking about my mental (well, and physical) health versus what I’m doing or have done in high school. I really think that the more competitive college requirements are taking a huge toll on students’ health. For example, I only take 3 AP classes (it’s my senior year). I have good time management-- I don’t procrastinate. I’m thorough with my work and I get it done, and am very strict on deadlines. Even with this, I get around 2-4 hours of sleep, and extracurriculars take up most of my free time (of course, because colleges require them). All of this stress, including applying to college and stress from outside factors, have me in such a depressive state that I don’t feel like doing anything, and I have found myself eating very little. I constantly feel like I never have enough time to do anything.
With this said, I cannot even BEGIN to imagine how other students are faring. Some people take 3x as many AP, IB, or honors classes, have crazy extracurriculars (i.e. time consuming clubs, sports, etc etc), take college courses, and more. They have to set out time to spend time with their families, all the while getting all of their work done and making sure they get good grades. A lot of these students even have jobs! Plus, juniors (and seniors) have to study for their ACTs and SATs, and other standardized tests.
When do people say enough is enough? I think the increase in mental illnesses can be directly linked to something like this. I get that colleges are asking for more-- they want the best students. There’s no doubt that students can do all of it, but at what cost to their health? I really think that students are ignoring their mental health, their sleep, and what their bodies are telling them because the mentality is that, “none of it matters as long as I get a good grade/into the college I want.” I’ve just begun to feel really concerned for other students’ health with all of this competition to get into college, especially for Ivy League schools (the suicide and prescription drug use at Ivy League schools is substantially higher than at public universities). A huge majority of users on here are competing for Ivy League and top school spots.
What does everyone think about this, and if you see a problem, what are some steps or changes that can be made to improve it?
Exactly… I can’t wait to get to college. Plus, most colleges have an on-campus psychiatrist/counselor. I will probably have to take advantage of that, unfortunately.
@awesomepolyglot same at my school…also lots of kids getting sent to crazy good colleges, which I’ve seen just destroy some mental health of kids in my grade with pressure and stuff. A lot of the parents have absurd expectations for the kids…luckily mine are happy with my decisions and trust me enough to make my own for me, but can’t wait for college for that stress to be over anyway
I was just reading “How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less” (longest freaking name i’ve seen in a book)
I haven’t finished it, but it seems to provide me with some decent time management tips so far. It was designed for college students, but everything can be applied to high school in the same way.
You are a senior! Before you know it you’ll be at college and living a life many high schoolers strive toward. Its okay to take a break sometimes, you should give your best effort and do what you can in the best way possible. I also know how you feel, I see kids in the hallways who were like relaxed and ready to learn in middle school, now seeming them is like they are sleep-walking! Lol
“When do people say enough is enough?” This is not the norm for the vast majority of students or at the vast majority of high schools. Where are your parents? There is absolutely no way I would allow my kid to wreck her health and well being in pursuit of a slightly better college than she might get into otherwise as you are describing. Frankly, it’s child abuse and it’s your parents’ responsibility to see that you get a reasonable amount of rest and are not under so much stress to achieve things that you aren’t comfortably capable of. If your parents aren’t willing to be the adults in the house and say enough is enough, why aren’t you? Colleges don’t “require” anything other than a high school diploma and that can be achieved without you wrecking your health. Everything else is your choice and your parents’ choice to allow it.
My first kid got into plenty of great colleges, and other than in the fall of her senior year, when she was often getting only 7, she slept 8+ hours per night. I am concerned that my junior sometimes gets only 7 but she does love everything she is doing and I don’t feel it’s quite reached the point where I need to force her to drop something (or curtail her social activities). Plus it will be better when her sport ends.
Incidentally, my first kid attributes her academic success, both in high school and in college, in part at least to–getting enough sleep.
Students and parents have a choice. My kids went to a slightly less high pressure independent HS than some of the options available. Both had good college options. You can back down on the rat race at any time.
My parents haven’t done anything wrong. I don’t tell them about my issues (perhaps my first problem) but I see a majority of the students just like me. I don’t understand why you’re saying “colleges don’t require anything except a high school diploma”. A simple high school diploma with amazing grades and good standardized test scores is NOT enough to get anyone into a top school unless you have something else about you that stands out- everyone knows that.
You still don’t get it. You don’t have to go to a “top school”. The vast majority of happy, successful people in this country did not attend a “top school”.
Yes, of course I know that “top schools” have high expectations. I also know that kids can get into those schools without the ordeal that you describe. And if you can’t get into a “top school” without making yourself miserable and wrecking your health, why would you want to go to a top school? Why not go to a school where you can also get a great education and be happy and healthy and sane? I wouldn’t allow my kid to do what you describe any more than I’d allow her to train herself to death trying to keep up with the top runners on her team.
You don’t get to live these years over. Some day you will look back on this and wonder why you tortured yourself.
Your parents haven’t noticed that you only sleep 2-3 hours per night? I make a point of checking with my kid 8.5-9 hours before she has to get up and making sure she is going to sleep soon.
I feel this idea that some high school students get that it’s somehow ok to undergo years of severe chronic sleep deprivation is a form of mental illness not unlike eating disorders and it’s the parents’ responsibility to make sure that kids know that nothing is so important that they should be doing this to themselves. Kids practically killing themselves trying to mold themselves into their idea of prefect Ivy applicants seems not unlike kids practically killing themselves to mold themselves into their idea of ultrathin top models. Your life will be just fine if you don’t, really.
Why haven’t you talked to your parents about how badly you are feeling? Are they the ones pushing you into this self-destructive behavior? I hate to read about parents who are not first and foremost concerned about their child’s health and happiness. You are a person, not a college name they can plaster on the back of their car.
No, they don’t push me as much as I push myself. I have very high expectations for myself. Last year I got a B+ in a class which ruined my 4.0 for the year. My parents were very happy for me and had no problem with it, but I was extremely angry with myself for not trying harder to get the A. I currently have a 3.886 GPA but feel like that’s not enough, and my AP calc teacher told us that “if you get an 85% in this class by the end of the year, you’re doing amazing”. That does not make me feel well at all-- I want at least an A-.
I plan on going to an in-state public university, and I have the stats for it, but I still feel that I won’t get in because I won’t be good enough compared to others. It’s a fairly easy school to get into yet I still worry that I’m going to be rejected, so I’ve been working extra hard this year.
Try to get more rest, it’s really hard to do well in school if you are overtired and this exhaustion is probably also making you feel depressed and unmotivated and possibly also taking away your appetite. I am not a doctor, but I do know that people need to sleep. It’s not optional. Perhaps you are aware that sleep deprivation is sometimes used as a form of torture.
I don’t know any school, much less a “farily easy school to get into” that expects students to spend so much time on ECs that they can only get 2-4 hours per night of sleep, or anything remotely close to that situation. Really, this is not something you have to do, and if you feel you cannot get this under control, I think you should seek help.
I also know how you feel, I see kids in the hallways who were like relaxed and ready to learn in middle school, now seeming them is like they are sleep-walking! Lol