As competition in school increases, the pressure to be the best and the smartest increases as well. Parents strive to give every opportunity for success that they didn’t have for their children, however, while doing so, they take away the creative freedom and independence that is essential for everyone. 

Believe it or not, the struggles of juggling their grades, their parents’ expectations,  competing against others, while managing their own well-being takes a toll on a student’s mental health.

While many adults might not agree, this is something that a lot of kids persevere through—especially as they grow older— and there are studies that prove it.

When schools like LTHS have a reputation for being competitive, students are bound to feel pressure to live up to the expectations set by the ones before them. 

Because of this, standards are high and parents tend to be a little demanding when it comes to academics. Some households typically pride themselves for good grades and landing jobs with high reputations, which leads to children basing their self-worth on academic achievements.

There are also many studies about children falling into depression because of the pressure put upon them. They have proven that teaching kids kindness and compassion in their early years instead of being only interested in good grades helps them perform better in school.

Ultimately, the anxiety and stress that comes from feeling like you’re not the best could leave kids to do anything it takes. This results in them turning to drugs, cheating, vaping and toxic relationships with friends and classmates.

Instead, parents should understand what their child is going through and teach them how to improve when they encounter an obstacle. Otherwise students tend to feel shame about feeling and fear it to a point where they could stop communicating with parental figures or adults.

All parents have good intentions behind the pressure they put on kids. Some parents want their children to have the opportunities that they couldn’t even think about when they were kids. Our parents have had to work hard to get to the position they are at now, and even now they have dreams that never came true. As academic demand increases, the mental health of students everywhere deteriorates. 

Other parents have a financial burden on them, and the only way their children will be able to go to college is through scholarships. And as opportunities to obtain scholarships have increased, parents feel that they have to push their kids even more. Yet, in the end, this shouldn’t be an excuse to pass that pressure onto new generations. 

There are many occasions of students throwing up before finals, so much so that schools even made rules for it. If a student throws up before or during a test, teachers have to reschedule the exam and get medical assistance for the student immediately.

Parents need to teach their kids compassion and how to build relationships with both other people and themselves. Only talking about school or grades subconsciously tells them that’s all that matters.

They need to trust their kids and respect them as individuals. Grades are important, but nowhere as important as self-love and confidence.