The Effects of Increased Pressure on High School Students

1059 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The effects of stress on university students

Adults repeatedly refer to their high school as the “best four years of your life” with students cheering on their favorite football team, bright eyed couples in the hallway, and friends spending time together. However, this generation of students experience so much pressure to do well in school that their worlds revolve around their grades and extra circulars. Along with the increased workload, high schools in 2014 have placed an enormous amount of pressure on admission to colleges and standardized testings. As a result, severe depr ession caused by stress has greatly increased among high school students today. Organizational change should be made to schools to decrease the anxiety of college admission and workload as well as addressing mental health issues; by adjusting their curriculums and excluding high stake tests, schools can reduce stress on students and, as a direct result, decrease depression rates. Depression and stress is a serious problem among teenagers today and continues to rapidly grow. According to Arike Gordon’s article “Stress and Depression; A Deadly Relationship,” stress, the feeling of frustrations, sadness, tension, withdrawal and worry commonly last only a few hours, days at the most. Stress can be caused by many factors, but anything that forces an individual to adjust or situations that put a lot of pressure on a person become stress triggers A little bit of stress is helpful to be productive, however, being stressed for a prolonged period of time, leads to depression. Depression lasts longer and is more severe than stress; extreme feelings of isolation, sadness, worry, hopelessness, withdrawal and feelings of worthlessness, sometimes lasting for years (Gordon, Arike). The effects of depression can le... ... middle of paper ... ... point, the average age of onset being only 14, as stated in Marin Wilde’s article “Physiological systems under pressure.” However, depression caused by pressure from school does not necessarily leave after a couple of months, it follows them to college and reenters their lives at the workplace which can result in physical and mental trauma (Anexity.Org) In conclusion as a result of standardized tests, college admission anxiety,stress from school workload and pressure to do well, students are prone to depression. To create a pleasurable environment in which students don’t feel immense amounts of pressure and are willing to learn, school’s should change the institutional culture to decrease as much stress as possible. By excluding standardized testing, create classes that inform students how to deal with mental pressure and lastly, lower the amount of workload.

Show More
Related

  • Depresion in Adolescents is Becoming and Epidemic

    1027 Words  | 3 Pages

    Despite the fact that teenage depression is a serious problem in today’s society, it is greatly overlooked and is therefore a contributing factor to a multitude of adolescent issues. For instance, teen...

    Read More

  • College Pressures By William Zinsser

    1735 Words  | 4 Pages

    From the beginning of high school, students strap on their seatbelts and prepare for one of the most vigorous races of their lives – becoming successful. With the rare occurrence of a break, kids are expected to keep on driving as fast and as powerfully as they can in order to get into a “great” college, which would be followed by graduate school and then an actual job that would make a lot of money. In American society, common values include working hard, determination, and being so productive that free time is not even a question. However, this philosophy is taking a major toll on American college and high school students. For at least 40 years, America’s future has been steadily growing unmotivated, tired, and hopeless due to the overemphasis on performing well in school. This phenomenon is appropriately expounded in William Zinsser’s “College Pressures”, which takes a look at the top four sources of tension that cause these feelings of dejection and agitation. After reading this article, I came up with a few solutions to this national problem. It is time to switch the harsh, over-encouraging green light of education to a comfortable yellow one. In order to make this ideal transition, directors of education across the country need to primarily reduce the amount of out-of-class assignments, lighten the grading system, and incorporate days in the school year that allow students to express their thoughts about school and provide useful feedback.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of 'The More Factor' By Laurence Shames

    1776 Words  | 4 Pages

    Even after the competitive race to get into desirable colleges has subsided, students are still finding themselves relying on the pressures of success to motivate them and push them forward. In Barbara Ehrenreich’s article “Bright-Sided”, Ehrenreich explains a mindset shared by those in the market economy that is also internalized by students in college and even workers in the workforce, “If optimism is key to material success, and if you can achieve an optimistic outlook through the discipline of positive thinking, then there is no excuse for failure” (Ehrenreich 538). Through Ehrenreich’s proposed positive thinking concept, the stress and pressures that young adults place on themselves are self-imposed and intertwined with their logic and reasoning, but those pressures are initially driven into their mindset by society. People in current society are brought up to believe that they as individuals must take responsibility for their own success; students think that if they use positive thinking, they will get exactly where they want to be, and if they fail, it is because they did not work hard enough. It is exactly this ideology that leads to students presenting “signs of depression, anxiety, and suicide ideation” (Alicia Kruisselbrink Flatt, The College

    Read More

  • Adapting To College Life In An Era Of Heightened Stress By Glenn Altschuler

    733 Words  | 2 Pages

    Glenn Altschuler addresses the difficulties and conundrums associated with entering college in his article “Adapting to College Life in an Era of Heightened Stress” He presents the experience of Kate Wilkinson and her feeling of unpreparedness for college. Glenn brings together statistical evidence to show how students are more stressed today than any time in the past. Glenn presents many solutions to decrease stress and uses Henry David Thoreau’s short story “Walden” as a basis of how stressed students should come back to a state of relaxation by meditating on what really matters in life.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Overloaded And Underprepared By Frank Bruni

    1038 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Frank Bruni’s response to “Overloaded and Underprepared,” he discusses the expectations of many high school students throughout their career which people view as a “perfect society.” Today, society has high expectations of high school students, which causes students to become stressed due to extracurriculars, jobs, and other organizations they are involved in. Throughout the response, Bruni shows disappointment because of the lack of sleep students receive each night and the stimulants students use to fulfill their goals which helps Bruni get his main idea across effectively.

    Read More

  • College Students and Anti-Depressants

    2689 Words  | 6 Pages

    According to an article by Josephine Marcotty in Minneapolis’ Star Tribune from April 10, college students lead “hyper-enriched lives,” said Greg Kneser, dean of students at St. Olaf College. That’s what makes this generation of students distinct from its predecessors, he said. That is why more students who cannot cope with these feelings end up at college counseling centers with “increasingly serious mental-health problems.” 15 to 20 percent of college students nationally were diagnosed with depression. The second most common diagnosis was severe anxiety. According to the article, it is not unusual for mental-health issues to become apparent during a student’s college years.

    Read More

  • Returning Adult Student

    920 Words  | 2 Pages

    4 Giancola, J.K., Grawitch, M.J., and Borchert, D. (2009). Dealing with the stress of college: A

    Read More

  • Major Teen Depression and Its Growing Issue in Society

    1368 Words  | 3 Pages

    People constantly overlook the severity of depression, more importantly, major teen depression, which presents a legitimate obstacle in society. The intensity of teen depression results from society’s general lack of acknowledgement of the rising affair. In 2012, “28.5% of teens were depressed” and 15.8% of teens contemplated the option of suicide (Vidourek 1 par. 1), due to their major depression going unnoticed or untreated for. Even teenagers themselves often ignore their depression or remain in denial because neither them nor anyone else recognizes the signs. “A sudden change in behavior is a main sign of someone being depressed, which could lead to having suicidal thoughts,” stated Pam Farkas, a clinical social worker in California (Aguilar 1 par. 8). The warning signs and risk factors of teen depression include behavioral issues, social withdrawal, and inadequate interest in activities (Adolescents and Clinical Depression 2 par. 3), yet the unawareness of these signs does not allow professional medical attention to intercede. Deaths, illnesses, rejection, relationship issues, and disappointment present passages down the negative path of teen depression, but treatments, such as psychotherapy, intervention programs, and antidepressants express ways to subdue this major problem. Knowledge of the increasing dilemma needs to circulate, in order to promote stable teen lives in the present and future world. Understanding major teen depression, the events and incidents that lead to depression, and how to overcome the problem will lead to a decrease in major teen depression and its growing issue in society.

    Read More

  • Depression in America's Teens

    2855 Words  | 6 Pages

    Teenage Depression. Everywhere you look these two words appear together as one, in newspapers and magazines, as well as in scholarly reports. Teenage depression is one of today's "hot topics" this among other teenage mental health problems, has been brought to the forefront of public consciousness in recent years after several incidents involving school shootings (CQ 595). The environment that teens grow up in today is less supportive and more demanding than it was twenty years ago. Not only are the numbers of depressed teens rising, but children are also being diagnosed at younger and younger ages. Studies have found that, "There is an estimated 1.5-3 million American children and adolescents who suffer from depression, a condition unrecognized in children until about 20 years ago" (CQR 595). This increase in depression is due to social factors that teenagers have to deal with everyday. A recent study found that, "About five percent of teenagers have major depression at any one time. Depression can be very impairing, not only for the affected teen, but also for his or her family-and too often, if not addressed, depression can lead to substance abuse or more tragic events" (NAMI.org). Gender roles and other societal factors including the pressures on girls to look and act a certain way, the pressures on boys to suppress their emotions and put on a tough front and the pressures on both sexes to do well in school and succeed, all contribute to depression in teens today. Depression is a growing problem which crosses gender lines and one that needs to be dealt with with more than just medication.

    Read More

  • Two Sides Of Incress Essay: Dissecting Stress

    1082 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since chronic stress can turn into depression, it is essential to lay it out more clearly that 1 in 10 Americans experiences depression at one point or

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Mindful

    1170 Words  | 3 Pages

    Studies have shown that many college students are not able to handle the stress while in school, which hinders the ability for the brain to act in a normal way (Shahrokh and Hales, 2003). If a person is unable to deal with the stress that one is being faced with, it will have negative consequences in terms of causing several psychological disorders (Canby et al., 2014). Entering post-secondary education is a completely new environment for students, as it can be tough for many to adjust to the new surroundings. There are many factors that cause stress when students enter college, as it can include having the ability to deal with lower marks (Struthers et al., 2000) and having to create a new social life. Once and if a social life is established, it can cause more stress among students because it can lead into peer pressure that results in risky behavior. In particular, peer pressure can cause alcoholism or drug abuse (Seiffge-Krenke, 1990) or it can also cause unprotected sex. Not only does stress revolve around peer-pressure, but it can also be caused by headaches and lack of energy. If a student is constantly staying up late to finish assignments or to study, it can cause headaches from the lack of sleep; thus causing stress. With all the given factors, it can be hard to overcome these external factors which can ultimately lead to stress among

    Read More

  • Today's Homework Stress

    639 Words  | 2 Pages

    Today, many students report more anxiety due to stress than child psychiatric patients did in the 1950’s. In a 2006 survey of 1,300 students at a public high school in Needham, Massachusetts found that 58% of the students surveyed reported between a great deal of stress and extreme stress due to homework (Bennett and Kalish). Many students in today’s time, have so many things to do that it is difficult for them to come home, only to have to finish five to six hours of homework. This, with the added effects of after school activities and technology, only adds to the stress that is put on students.

    Read More

  • The Growing Problem of Teenage Depression in Today's Society

    1492 Words  | 3 Pages

    Teenage depression is a growing problem in today's society and is often a major contributing factor for a multitude of adolescent problems. The statistics about teenage runaways, alcoholism, drug problems, pregnancy, eating disorders, and suicide are alarming. Even more startling are the individual stories behind these statistics because the young people involved come from all communities, all economic levels, and all home situations-anyone's family. The common link is often depression. For the individuals experiencing this crisis, the statistics become relatively meaningless. The difficult passage into adolescence and early adulthood can leave lasting scars on the lives and psyches of an entire generation of young men and women. There is growing realization that teenage depression can be life- changing, even life threatening.

    Read More

  • Academic Stress Causes Teenage Depression

    999 Words  | 2 Pages

    Academic stress can take complete control over the student enduring it. Researchers say that the most common form of anxiety causing academic stress is achievement anxiety. This type of anxiety is likely to occur when a student has a fear of failure in an academic related situation. However a report conducted in 2000, Research in Higher Education” showed that academic stress and achievement anxiety can have a positive effect on a students grades. This is because students are aware of the fa...

    Read More

  • The Causes and Effects of Pressure on Students to Get Good Grades

    1375 Words  | 3 Pages

    Are the new standards and expectations the world has for teenagers really creating monsters? The amount of stress that is put on students these days between trying to balance school, homework, extra curricular activities, social lives, sleep and a healthy lifestyle is being considered a health epidemic (Palmer, 2005). Students are obsessing over getting the grades that are expected of them to please those that push them, and in return, lose sleep and give up other aspects of their lives that are important to them, such as time with friends and family, as well as activities that they enjoy. The stress that they endure from the pressures of parents, teachers, colleges, and peers has many physical as well as mental effects on every student, some more harmful than others. The extreme pressure on students to get perfect grades so that they will be accepted into a college has diminished the concept of actually learning and has left the art of “financing the system” in order to succeed in its place (Palmer, 2005).

    Read More

More about The Effects of Increased Pressure on High School Students

Open Document