The first thought that pops in my mind when my alarm starts beeping is “Oh my gosh, when can I go back to sleep.” It’s the sad truth of many American teenagers. I know I am not the only one who comes home at 6pm after an exhausting day at school and sports practice, opens my overflowing backpack, and consequently stays up until at least 12:30 (on a good night) completing my assignments for the next day only to be woken up by my alarm at 6:30am. The teen years are stressful enough without the added pressure of academic performance, job responsibilities, athletic games, or finding a prom date. The American Millennial generation is plagued with the perfection mentality and is caught up in the college arms race.
Teens who are too busy and overworked might have an increased risk of developing burnout. It is a psychological term used to refer to the physical effects of being pushed beyond our limits. In a psychological study done by the American Psychological Association, it showed, “Teens reported that their stress levels during the school year far exceeded what they believe to be healthy (5.8 vs. 3.9 on a 10-point scale) and topped adults' average reported stress levels (5.8 for teens vs. 5.1 for adults). Even during the summer — from Aug. 3 to Aug. 31, 2013, when interviewing took place — teens reported their stress during the prior month at levels higher than what they believe is healthy (4.6 vs. 3.9 on a 10-point scale).” Teens with burnout might experience difficulty sleeping, irritability, anxiety and feelings of nervousness. How am I ever supposed to function if all of my activities don’t fit in a 24 hour day? Somehow we make it all work. The question should not be how to manage all of this, as some of our schools would suggest, the question should be, “Why are we managing all of this?”
Colleges want a resumé — that is why. Because in today’s world, it is not always enough to have OK grades and decent SAT scores and be an average soccer player. The pressure to get into college is higher than ever and if we don’t distinguish ourselves, we could get left behind as Alexandra Ossola, a writer for The Atlantic stated, “It is more competitive than ever to get into college, so it’s incumbent on students with the wherewithal to apply to the most competitive schools to present the strongest possible portfolio.” Nevertheless, there is no denying that the world that we are growing up in has become a different place. We are not well-rounded people anymore. We are well-pointed people, who have dabbled in everything but still have found our niches. Then again, if everyone is special, is anyone special? Competition is a pretty powerful driving force, and it has created a generation of students who have worked hard to climb to the top. More people are attending college than before. There are also more college graduates who do not have jobs and students who are left unemployed and in debt. Which, especially for today’s high school and college students, is a scary thought. Politics are in shambles and the economy is still teetering on the edge of a double-dip recession. That is not to say that college is not worth it, but it does create fear, which creates more drive, which creates, well, us.
When was the last time any of us sat outside to enjoy the beautiful West Virginia sunset? Or read a book that wasn’t required for school? It is imperative that we take a time out and take some much needed me time. Without it, we are no more than robots, completing the routine of daily mundane tasks. I admit that I can’t remember the last time I haven’t done something school related. Constantly bombarded with endless responsibilities I can feel myself succumbing to the arms race. This is not to say that I do not enjoy the activities I participate in. it is just that lately they have been pushing me to the brink.
