The underlying problem
Students in today’s era are increasingly facing external pressure, not just from studying, but from social media comparison, and expectations from family, teachers, and society. This emerges both from the intensity of the school’s academic curriculum and the high standards set by their relatives and the surrounding community. To these youngsters, it almost feels like top grades are not enough anymore, instead, they also need to fulfill other family and social responsibilities such as helping the disadvantaged group or making sufficient money to support their parents and grandparents. Therefore, stress, exhaustion, and burnout are inevitable posing significant challenges for society, as they are the main workforce in the future.
Sources of academic pressure
Source: https://mcm.edu.ph/academic-pressure-causes-effects-coping-tips/
Facing academic pressure is a part of a student’s life, from the workload of assignments, exams, and homework to doing extracurricular activities such as organizing clubs, start-ups, and volunteering projects. All of these can make the students overwhelmed and admission to top schools tends to be demanding, thus exerting significant stress and anxiety on teenagers. In most Asian societies, students even have immense pressure from their parents, to excel academically. This is deeply rooted in cultural values, as parents believe that a good education is the only way for their children to be “successful” in life and improve their social mobility. Additionally, teachers also have high expectations for their students, as educating an exceptional student tends to provide the teacher with a higher reputation. (Martinez, 2024)
Inevitable outcomes
Due to the excessive workload from schools, students have been suffering from many severe mental health illnesses nowadays. The prolonged exposure to competitive pressure can inflict chronic stress on a student’s mind, and may even result in burnout – when someone is physically and mentally exhausted. There have been reports from teenagers that they often feel fatigued and detached from reality after studying for so long to meet the requirements of society. There is even a term called “the new burnout generation” which clearly reflects how the constant demand for perfection destroys the emotional well-being of this generation. (North, 2024)
Parents and teachers’ role
Parents and teachers play a major role in applying pressure on youngsters. Every parent cares for their child deeply, but everyone has different approaches to caring for their children. Parents want their children to improve and become better students and successful members of society. But some express it in the wrong way, they subconsciously compare their kids to others, leading to distress and feelings of inadequacy. The problem is exacerbated when parents’s expectations misalign their child’s perceptions of self-identity. Meanwhile, teachers demand outstanding performance from their students, especially in environments where achievements and reputation are prioritized. The pressure at school and home combined can lead to cycles of depression and can develop personal traumas for teenagers since their emotional needs are often ignored.
Suggestions?
It is absolutely concerning that young adults feel immense pressure in life at such an early stage of mental and physical development. Without proper care, the pressure will accumulate like an inflated balloon and when it bursts, it can grow into severe mental disorders in the future. The risk here is that these teenagers have to carry it for the rest of their lives because these mental illnesses are extremely difficult to cure. It is best that parents and teachers reduce their expectations on the young generations, and let them freely develop their characters and identities. Adults should pay attention to their children’s mental health more and spot if there are any depressive symptoms in the early stage to come up with appropriate curing measures.
References
Martinez, C. (2024). The Impact of Academic Stress on Teen Mental Health. [online] Beachside Teen Treatment Center. Available at: https://beachsideteen.com/the-impact-of-academic-stress-on-teen-mental-health/ [Accessed 17 Dec. 2024].
North, A. (2024). The New Burnout Generation. [online] Vox. Available at: https://www.vox.com/life/378065/teen-stress-burnout-teens-productivity-anxiety [Accessed 18 Dec. 2024].