Under Pressure: The Impact of Academic Expectations on Teens
Let’s face it: being a teenager isn’t easy, especially in today’s world. Teens can be left feeling like they’re constantly trying to catch up just to meet their own expectations—and the expectations that their family, teachers, coaches, friends, and social media set out for them.
Teens face a lot of pressure. This pressure can impact how a teen acts, behaves, feels, and sees themselves. The stress of it all can be overwhelming. In addition, they’re at a pivotal point where their decisions and performance in school will impact their future. Many teens are left feeling like they have to be the perfect student and shine in extracurriculars.
Let’s learn more about the impact of academic expectations on teens.
Where Does Academic Pressure Come From?
The pressure to succeed in school doesn’t usually come from the school itself. For many teens, it starts at home. A lot of parents want what’s best for their children, but more often than not, these wants can turn into high—and sometimes unrealistic—expectations (wanting them to get straight A’s or acceptance letters to the top colleges across the United States).
Their school, teachers, and counselors can add to this stress by prepping students for college and fixating on class rankings and test scores. Social media can also play a role in academic pressure. When classmates show off their achievements, it can make their peers feel like they’re falling behind.
Mental Health Challenges
The pressure that a teen deals with can cause serious issues with their mental health. Due to the added pressure, a teen is more likely to experience anxiety, burnout, or depression. Some teens can even lose sleep over their homework, projects, upcoming tests, and grades, which can make it difficult for them to enjoy things outside of the classroom. If they succeed or do well, instead of being proud of their accomplishments, they’re often focused on what would happen and who they would disappoint if they failed.
Missing Out
It’s important to find a balance in everything that we do. For teens, this mostly means finding a good mix between schoolwork and play. A teenager’s outside hobbies, engagement in sports, and socializing with friends can be just as important for their growth and development as their academics.
These areas outside of school can help a teen truly find themselves and figure out who they are and what they enjoy outside of the classroom. Outside hobbies can help teens determine the things that bring them joy and help them into their unique and authentic selves.
How to Find Balance
If you notice that your teen is struggling, it’s important to be mindful of what may be contributing to this feeling of pressure. Instead of encouraging your teen to be perfect, make sure they know that you’re proud of their hard work and effort, not just the grades that they receive. Even though no one wants to fail, failure can be a great learning lesson and opportunity for growth.
The world has come a long way with conversations about mental health and wellness, but unfortunately, it still has a long way to go. Students should be aware that experiencing stress and feelings of being overwhelmed can be common from time to time. It’s also important that they’re aware that their personal success will look different from someone else’s, depending on a person’s goals.
Next Steps
The pressure to do well in school won’t disappear overnight, but you can help your teen take the necessary steps to better manage and control these thoughts and feelings. As a parent, validate their emotions. Make sure they know you care about how they feel, just as much as the grades that they’re receiving. For support and strategies to manage the anxiety and other challenges that stem from this pressure, therapy for teens can be invaluable. Reach out today to request an appointment.