Written by Madeline Lund
Ms. Lund is a high school student in Northern Virginia and volunteers with Mental Health Virginia.
As a high school student myself, I recognize the high stress levels that students experience on a daily basis. Normalizing the stress that students are under and finding ways to support one another is imperative to fostering happiness and wellbeing among all students. It is essential that we break the stigmas around anxiety and find ways to collectively cope with stressful events in school.
As I have ventured through high school so far, I have noticed signs that indicate high stress. The most common sign of stress I see is students comparing academic achievements with one another. This action in itself is a sign that the people talking about it are feeling stressed about the pressures of getting into college and keeping up with their peers. The dangerous aspect of this comparison is that when people talk about these academic pressures with another person, it will then stress that person out, and then they will start comparing and talking to others, and it becomes a chain of comparison that spirals into high stress levels for many students.
This competitive environment triggers stress that can actually hinder future academic performance. In my physics class for example, there have been numerous times when my peers compare their grades or skill level in the subject, which can be difficult noise to tune out. Physics is not my best subject, so I often don’t grasp the material right away or even at all, despite my diligent work ethic and study efforts. This makes the comparison I hear in class frustrating because people will be complaining about their grades when those grades are usually higher than mine. This competition instills unnecessary stress in me before tests which contributes to why I underperform.
A study called Newcomer et al (1999) explains how stress inhibits memory. Stress produces a hormone called cortisol, and an excess amount of cortisol leads to impaired declarative memory. This fact is important to understand when thinking about the stress students are experiencing in school. Yes, students should gain motivation from their peers, but at what cost? Sometimes despite the best efforts of students, stress is the leading reason why they may not do well on exams. It is essential to find a balance so there can be a collaborative learning environment in the classroom, but also less competition among students that causes stress.
Additionally, the workload and struggle to manage several rigorous classes can be a challenge for many people. On top of taking rigorous classes, students feel expected to maximize their extracurriculars and community involvement in order to stand out amongst their peers. Although both extracurriculars and focus in school is important, the workload makes it challenging for many students to keep up.
Furthermore, as an article from the National Library of Medicine
explains, expectations and unequal treatment from teachers can make students’ lives more stressful as well. I experienced stressful situations with my Spanish teacher when I felt like I was trying so hard but she would outwardly pick on me in class and evidently give students different treatment.
For example, when one student asked the teacher to round their grade up because it was on the cusp of an A, she allegedly not only rounded their grade up but bumped it up to 95%. Additionally, when another student wanted to raise their quarterly grade, she gave them a simple extra credit opportunity. However, when I have attempted to ask for extra credit, she claims that she doesn’t give extra credit at all. This made me extremely frustrated and contributed to my already overwhelming anxieties about school. Situations like these occur in so many students’ lives and it raises stress levels significantly.
Other major stressors I have noticed are related to peers and social life. Especially when entering high school for the first time, it can be difficult to acclimate to the new environment and make connections in such an intimidating new place. Even after freshman year, these stressors remain and take form in new ways as you grow through high school.
Throughout my high school experience, I have noticed the prevalence of social climbing and the desire to achieve a status that others might deem as “popular.” And when someone is not in the “popular” crowd, it may feel like they are on the outside looking in and feel pressured by the social stigmas around them. Many people feel the weight of stress when they are excluded or not invited to things, and it can be a very challenging feeling. I know I have felt that way before, when I have not been invited to some parties, or not been included in certain events. The fear of missing out (FOMO) can be a gut-wrenching feeling that creates an overabundance of stress for students on top of the stress from school.
- First, schools should start encouraging student personal growth and exploration of individual interests to reduce unhealthy competition against their peers.
- High Schools should repurpose extensive awards or special prizes that honor specific students and instill competition, to instead reward school projects that foster collaboration, support and a mutual interest of learning so that students see their peers’ success as a victory rather than a competition.
- To reduce workload stress and discrepancies with teachers, schools can set guidelines for how much work classes should be given. Ensure the workload is consistent with the rigor of the class so students understand how much work they may be getting themselves into before signing up for the class.
- Additionally, students can use coping strategies (Tips for managing stress) like journaling, listening to music, getting a good night’s sleep, deep breathing, healthy exercise, self-care, positive affirmations, talking with a trusted adult, and spending time outside to reduce stress levels.
- To avoid stressors with workload, finding ways to manage time like using an organized agenda, keeping your school supplies organized, and establishing consistent routines can be helpful.
- Advocate to break stigmas around “popularity” and social status because really social status does not define your worth. Society has glorified popularity so much when it means nothing and achieving it does not make you happier or less stressed. Chasing popularity will actually make students more stressed, which is why it is important that we continue advocacy efforts so that the youth of future generations don’t feel an unhealthy burden of popularity.
Schools, students and families should work together to minimize the stress of students and set them up for success and happiness.
Follow @resiliencerisinginitiative on Instagram (a youth-led initiative I co-founded that offers a supportive environment to facilitate meaningful discussions and an open-space to break stigmas surrounding mental health.)
Supportive Resources:
https://jedfoundation.org/stress-101/
https://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/student-mental-health-resources/
https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health/living-with/index.html
Mental Health Virginia peer warm line: 866.400.6428
