Parents Don't Understand This Generation's Stress Levels | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Parents Don't Understand This Generation's Stress Levels

Our education system is much different from what it once was.

2733
Parents Don't Understand This Generation's Stress Levels
universe.byu.edu

As high school students during this day and age, we are faced with constant stress and anxiety due to our workload and academic expectations. There is never a night where we are able to escape from homework and other school and life related responsibilities. Many of us juggle schoolwork, sports, jobs, volunteer work, and simple chores at home. It is almost impossible for us to manage all of this on top of normal human functions like sleeping, bathing, and eating. So why don't our parents seem to empathize with us?

Parents love to jump to the assumption that if we are smart students, no amount of work will be hard for us. Maybe the coursework isn't necessarily difficult, but it's impossible to avoid lengthy homework assignments and projects. They claim that being an adult is so much harder, but they are not aware that we are shaping our futures and that there is no time for failure. In addition, they also manage the possibility of quitting this volunteer job or sport, getting rid of that hard AP class, or anything else that is troubling us. While that would surely alleviate some stress, the American education system molds us to do as much as we possibly can without combusting to ensure that we make it into this college, get that scholarship, or simply become employed later in life.

We are made to feel awful for our failures. We have a terribly tough grading system that makes or breaks us throughout our high school years. Our parents grew up in a different time when college was easier to get into, you could become successful without college, and when college did not cost nearly as much. If we are unable to get good test scores and keep good grades, we struggle to find scholarships to cover the daunting cost of college. Unless we get a 4-year college education, chances are, we will be unable to find anything about minimum-wage employment. Even with a college degree, many students cannot find employment or internships.

So much is expected of us. We are exasperated from what is placed in front of us. Even though it may be a horrible exaggeration, our schooling system is basically saying "balance a million things at once and forget self-care because if not, you will never be successful in the real world". We are only one person. We can only do so much. It is important that our parents offer us empathy and sympathy because times are different. It is not as easy as it once was.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Does anybody know how to study
Gurl.com

It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

2016
How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl roommates
StableDiffusion

Where do we begin when we start talking about our roommates? You practically spend every moment with them, they become your second family and they deal with you at your best and at your absolute worst. They are there to make you laugh just a little harder, cry a little less and make each day a little better. We often forget to thank them for the little things that they do to make college even a tiny bit easier and more fun. This list of 26 things are what you should thank your roommates for right this minute and every day that you live with them.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

20 Thoughts While Studying For Finals

I may or may not be stressing right now.

2452
Thoughts While Studying For Finals
StableDiffusion


That time of the semester has arrived once again, finals. The worst week ever. Who thought it was a good idea for all your classes to have exams all in the same week? Definitely not me. Here's 20 thoughts you may have studying for finals.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Disney magic for New Year!

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

7210
Disney magic kingdom castle on new years
StableDiffusion

Disney movies are well known and very popular in today's world. Although many people appreciate the plot and the storyline, not many people appreciate the wisdom these characters possess. Every Disney movie has unique advice that can be applied to everyday life. Here are 11 Disney quotes to help start your New Year off right:

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments