Highschool is a time of discovery, growth, and so many emotions. For many students, this time period consists of pressure, excitement, confusion, and anxiety. Students often feel a rollercoaster of all these emotions. Believe it or not, your peers may feel the same stress that you do!
While many students appreciate different aspects of school, many feel disconnected from the pieces that come with going to school every day, socially, academically, and emotionally.
It’s important for you to know how the people around you feel. It is quite easy to get invested in what’s going on for ourselves, forgetting that we really are all just trying our best.
A common theme amongst students was that they have trouble paying attention in class and getting their work done. Some students also explained that a general classroom environment is not best suited for them as individual learners. Many think that the memorization and organization factors of academics affects their ability to do their best in school.
“I would rate my academic self confidence around a 4 or 5. I’m just really not good at [school], and I can’t focus either. I’ve never really had a class where I feel like it’s good teaching for me, you know? I learn differently,” Tracy Brown* said.
Students opened up about feeling like they don’t suit the cookiecutter education way. Whether it’s attention span issues, motivation issues, or having a rough time with different learning styles, some students explained that they feel insecure about not being able to be the student their parents or teachers want them to be.
”When I wake up on a school day, I can feel stressed. I might have a test or something I know is coming up. Other times it just feels pretty repetitive to me because you’re doing the same thing everyday,” Evan Huges said.
Other students reported that they feel very good about themselves when it comes to school. Those who feel good about themselves have a theme of high GPA’s and participation in extra curricular activities and AP classes. A few students opened up about how much their self confidence is connected to how they’re doing academically.
Simone Green reports that the social part of high school has been just as intense as the academic part. “Last year, I felt like I had the best friends ever. This year, we barely talk. I don’t even know why.” She described the emotional ups and downs of changing friendships. “One week you’re laughing at lunch every day. Next week, you’ll be walking alone.”
Students feel overwhelmed, excited, isolated, and inspired—sometimes all in the same week. Each student has a unique story, but common themes connect them: the desire to belong, the pressure to succeed, and the freedom of being young. The best you can do is stand by your peers, and remember that you’re not alone even on your most difficult day.
*All names are aliases to protect student privacy.