Race To Nowhere By Vicki Abeles

The clock strikes seven. The bell rings as you scurry to take your seat. Your bloodshot eyes and the scorching hot coffee sloshed all over your shirt indicate the all-nighter you pulled last night studying for this morning’s exam. This is a common scenario seen in today’s high school classrooms. In the documentary, Race to Nowhere, Vicki Abeles takes a closer look into some of these students’ lives and examines how the increased pressure in school affects their wellbeing. Extracurricular actives, community service, outstanding GPAs, and club involvement are only a few of the things that colleges look for in a potential student. The documentary highlights the negative effects of excessive homework and lack of free time that high school students

According to the article Getting into College, “there are over a half million more 17-year-olds in the United States than there were 10 years ago” (Ewers and Haight). The increased amount of applicants only makes the process that much more selective and competitive. The article continues to point out that, by 2004, nearly forty-seven percent of high school students graduated with an A average. Because of this influx in applicants, colleges only want to accept the smartest, most diverse, and most involved students. This is obviously a very frightening and stressful thought for most adolescents. Students then begin to push themselves just a little harder, stay up just a tad longer to study , and take on just a few more clubs with one motive in mind—to further decorate their college applications. This added stress and pressure may not seem like a monumental issue at first, but it can develop into serious illnesses if it is not maintained and

The article, Binge-Like Eating Attenuates Nisoxetine Feeding Suppression, Stress Activation, And Brain Norepinephrine Activity, suggests that this eating disorder results as a way to cope with negative emotions or stressful situations (Bello, Nicholas T., et al). Dopamine levels increase while eating which causes a perceived increase in pleasure and happiness. This is why some stressed out students turn to excessive eating. The article goes on to list obesity as a consequence of binge eating. Increased weight can ultimately lead to decreased self esteem and even depression. On the other hand, in attempt to not gain weight, some force themselves to vomit up the food they consumed, a disorder known as bulimia. This, like anorexia, deprives the body of vital nutrients and energy sources that the body needs to function properly. Due to the increase of the prevalence of these disorders in adolescents, it is obvious that the pressure to succeed in school is causing a large amount of stress and playing a major role in diminishing the health of today’s