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Anxie(teen)

According to Psychology Today, present-day high-schoolers have the same level of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the early 1950's, a fact which, although not surprising, is extremely concerning.

Exchanging mental health for academic success might seem crazy for some people, but it is the unfortunate reality that many teenagers face. It seems as though high-school students have always struggled to find a balance between their mental wellbeing and school, but in recent years, this has become evidently harder to do without going insane.

In a survey answered by 105 HS students about the causes of stress in school, the most prominent answers were the new grading system, advanced classes, and teachers; all with a 60 percent average vote. The top choice, however, with an alarming 96 percent vote, was -surprise surprise- homework. Although each class lasts four hours a week—enough to complete tasks within the curriculum—high-school students continue to be assigned an unnecessary amount of homework. Yes, practicing and studying for a test is important to comprehend the material to the best of one’s ability, but it is completely pointless that I or any student be assigned projects or tasks to be completed with their entirety outside of class. Schoolwork should be done at school, not outside. If there is not enough time to do a certain project or assignment, why include it in the curriculum in the first place? Important assignments and standards should be prioritized over those that “waste time” and not left to do in your house.

At times, it seems as though schools forget that both students and teachers are trying to lead ordinary and peaceful lives. School already takes up 1/3 of our 24 hour day, the other third belonging to the recommended amount of sleep. That leaves eight hours, which after subtracting necessary ordeals like driving, eating, showering, and getting ready, become four. Students are also encouraged to participate in afterschool activities in order to be well rounded, and fortunately, many do, whether it be gym classes, soccer training, or guitar lessons. These usually last for two hours. That leaves two more hours per day of supposed free time, but this is quickly replaced by homework. This results in students having zero time to be by oneself, to focus more on hobbies, or simply watch a TV show after a long day of work. Unless you resort to taking time off your sleep to get everything done, which is what usually ends up happening, you would see why students are frustrated most of the time.

Mental health awareness from the administration will always be important, but the incapacity to realize that the school has a huge emotional and psychological toll on its students seems hypocritical in the least, not to mention that they always turn out to sound repetitive. In 9th grade, teachers use a spreadsheet to evenly distribute the workload amongst the week. However, this is a measure that ends for Bach I, II, and III—the grades that need it the most. Unexpected assemblies also take away the little time students have to complete their homework. It is very stressful to find out that your time will be taken away by a motivational guest speaker when you have an assignment due the next period. It is never too late to fix a broken system, no matter how old. Initiatives like the new standard based grading system, although flawed, demonstrate how change can and should be done. A school that strives in keeping an open mind should do the same when students speak out against problems like these, not when it pursues to improve its public image or when it is most convenient.