Warning! I am about to list some words that may induce extreme stress: school, homework, standardized testing, work, friends, extracurricular clubs, volunteering, family, bills, and sports. If you are the average young adult, that list probably reminded you of approximately 10,000 things you need to do. As a young adult in 2016, stress levels have reached an all-time high.
Starting in high school, kids are burdened with an increasing amount of responsibilities. These students, who aren’t even legal adults yet, are constantly pressured with the daunting questions, such as, “What are you going to do after high school?” As a 16 year old, the answers to this question are vast. The choices after high school range from a job, technical school, college, or other. Most students choose to attend college.
Now that the decision has been made to attend college, the next question is where. From thousands of universities to choose from, students are pressured into doing exceptional work just to get into the college of their dreams. The stress is now geared into making sure you do well on the standardized tests, being involved in sports and extracurricular activities, and volunteering for various organizations all while maintaining an excellent GPA. Not to mention that students already have social obligations and responsibilities to their friends and family. There just isn’t enough time in the day for students to juggle school, sports, friends, family, and their clubs. When did “being a kid” become worrying about “being perfect” for the scrutiny of college admission boards?
After surviving the years of high school-induced stress, you think college will be a breeze. Wrong. Now the question becomes, “What are you going to do with your life?” Thrown from the comfort of home, now students must take care of themselves. While being independent and caring for yourself are important skills to have, not having your parents to help you with random tasks can be stressful at times. Whether it is accidentally bleaching all of your clothes, having to change a tire for the first time, or learning how to use an iron, we all have those “growing up” moments. While they all need to happen at some point, there is a little sad thought in the back of your head that acknowledges the fact that you are growing up. Now as a college freshman learning to care for yourself for the first time, you still have to juggle school, jobs, friends, family, extracurricular activities, sports, and volunteering. Instead of colleges looking at your involvement and grades, it is employers looking at them.
In today’s society, it is easy to grow up too fast. It is too easy to get caught up in the looming questions that adults seem to be constantly asking. While all the extra clubs and sports may look appealing on your college admission form or your job application, ask yourself if it is really something you enjoy. If something causes more stress than enjoyment, don’t do it. There comes a point when you must prioritize your life on what matters. Being involved in a stressful activity isn’t worth the resume value in the long run if you don’t truly enjoyment. Staying awake at night because you are worried about your future is both something you cannot control and something you should not stress over.
So ask yourself: Will I even remember this little thing in a year? If the answer is no, don’t worry about it. One B on an exam won’t ruin your life, just like one less activity won’t lessen your value to an employer. I am not saying to avoid activities all together, but I am advising to only do what you can handle. Growing up is something we all have to do, whether we like it or not, but don’t allow societal pressures to make it already harder than it is. Everyone has to grow up at some point, but don't let stress steal your childhood.
