My day usually starts at 6:30 a.m. and doesn’t end until close to midnight. Between school, sports, and worrying about college, I rarely get a moment to myself. On the surface, it probably seems like I have everything under control, but honestly, most days I just feel tired. I often wonder: When did being a teenager become so exhausting?

I think teenagers today deal with expectations that go far beyond getting good grades. Having a high GPA or good test scores does not really stand out anymore. Instead, those are just basic requirements. Now, on top of academics, you are expected to be involved in sports, join clubs, win competitions, volunteer regularly, and keep up a perfect image both online and in real life. Don’t get me wrong—I believe ambition can be good. Setting goals and working hard is something I admire. But at some point, trying to excel at everything stops being about growth and starts feeling like running on a treadmill, always moving but never truly getting anywhere.

A normal weekday for me means waking up early, spending hours at school, attending cram schools, practicing swimming, and practicing music. By the time I am home, there is usually still homework to do. If I pause even briefly to watch YouTube or just relax, I immediately feel guilty, thinking I should be preparing for the next exam or doing something productive. Even when I achieve something important, that happiness fades quickly because there is always something else I have to start worrying about.

I also think social media plays a huge role in this stress. Whenever I scroll through Instagram or TikTok, it seems like everyone around me is winning some competition, getting into a dream university, or simply living a life way better than mine. Of course, I am genuinely happy for them, but I cannot help feeling like I am falling behind. It makes me wonder: am I the only one who cannot keep up?

According to the World Health Organization, teenage stress levels related to schoolwork have significantly increased in recent years. Between 2018 and 2022, the number of teenagers who felt strong support from family dropped from 73 percent to 67 percent, and peer support decreased as well. It is even worse for girls: 63 percent now say they feel intense pressure from schoolwork, up from 54 percent. I think these numbers tell us something important. Millions of teenagers are quietly struggling with these pressures every day, and many do not feel comfortable speaking up about them.

So what can we do about this? I believe the biggest change needs to come from adults, especially teachers and parents. Instead of constantly asking about grades or what universities we want to attend, maybe try asking us how we are feeling or what we are genuinely interested in. Not every activity needs to be something to impress a college admissions officer. Sometimes we need space to just relax and do things because we enjoy them. I also think schools have a responsibility to start seriously addressing mental health. Students should clearly know where to find support, and getting help should feel normal and comfortable, rather than scary or embarrassing.

Finally, I think we all need to reconsider what success means. Success should not just mean high grades, winning awards, or having a large social media followers. I believe real success includes feeling balanced, enjoying life, and having meaningful relationships. Of course, this can be subjective for everyone. But consider this: if someone has perfect grades and lots of accomplishments but constantly feels anxious, exhausted, or lonely, is that really success? Maybe real success also means knowing when it is okay to step back. With that said, even as we carry these great ambitions and workloads, we need to remind ourselves, and each other, that it is perfectly okay to take a break, breathe, and just be human sometimes.

Bibliography

1. World Health Organization. "Mental Health of Adolescents." 10 Oct. 2024, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health.

2. World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe. “Rising School Pressure and Declining Family Support, Especially among Girls, Finds New WHO/Europe Report.” World Health Organization, 13 Nov. 2024, www.who.int/europe/news/item/13-11-2024-rising-school-pressure-and-declining-family-support-especially-among-girls--finds-new-who-europe-report.