Is there too much pressure to go to college?
Teenagers should be given the option to pursue knowledge with or without college. Education is acquired with the prime objective of gaining knowledge; the colleges are one of the facilitators of knowledge but not the only one. The pressure to enter the college is getting too severe for the teenagers to bear, leading to mental breakdown that brings everything to a naught. There is a need to understand that the adolescents are yet to become mature to withstand the mental pressures coming from different quarters- parents, peers, teachers etc. The pursuit of knowledge is successful only if the push comes from within and not from external sources.
A college is considered as the gateway to a decent job. Post their college education, when the young students try to enter the job market, the educational achievement becomes the first qualifier. Someone who lacks the higher degree is considered to be unfit for the job irrespective of his or her other competencies. Consequently, the thought of entering a college itself acts as the first pressure point.
Pressure Points
The chase to secure a place in colleges can be best compared to a rat race. Every applicant seeking admission tries to outperform others with the help of additional skill sets mentioned in the college application. As per Jennifer Winge, dean of admissions at The College of Wooster, the Common Application (that is) accepted by 400 colleges used to have four lines of activities and now has 10 lines. There is pressure to fill those spaces (quoted in Niederberger). Thus, the need for extra activities has been rising.
Parental Pressure- The pressure exerted by the parents, for the so-called betterment of their children, only worsens the situation. Sometimes, the pressure comes directly when they want their children to enrol for various courses to stay ahead of the competition; sometimes the pressure comes through emotions when the youngsters see the high expectations of their parents and feel the performance related anxiety. Then there are parents who want to realize their unfulfilled dreams through their children. Rockel L Brooklyn, a teenager, says that, “At a young age, I realized that my parents depend on me to become everything that they have always wanted to become themselves”.
Pressures from Teachers- Teachers too contribute their share in mounting the pressure on youth. They keep telling the students that, as per the latest trend, only the best can manage to get the jobs. Dr. Coleman opines about the pressure, “As teachers are constantly reminding their classes, they will need superior skills if they expect to land a job. That is, if there are any jobs left, a worry generated by the downsizing trend of recent years”. (quoted in "When the Pressure to Excel Gets Out of Hand”).
What an over-stress can cause?
An optimum pressure drives performance whereas its excess dose adversely affects the performance besides damaging the physical and mental health. Moreover, the ability to withstand growing pressure also varies from person to person. Too much pressure takes a heavy toll on their mental well-being, leading sometimes to their mental breakdown. There are instances of adolescents taking to drugs, alcohol and other harmful substance to deal with stress and, in the long run, these factors become the reasons for greater stress. The nervous breakdowns, panic attacks, burnouts, and depression are also apparent in many younger students (Kaur). There are also few incidents of teens taking their own lives due to over-stress. This clearly indicates that there is something seriously wrong with the expectations of society.
The Way Out
Realistic expectations- Every individual has certain limitations and the teenagers are no exceptions to the rule. Not everyone can excel in studies and other extra-curricular activities at the same time. Realisation of the capability of young students is the first set up towards mitigating their pain. Moreover, an improvement in any skill including studies comes slowly and gradually. Even small amount of improvements in the stipulated period can lead to a big positive change over the period of time. To demand that a perennial D student in science suddenly start pulling A’s in eleventh grade chemistry is not only unreasonable but may very well set her up for failure and discouragement ("When the Pressure to Excel Gets Out of Hand"). Expecting a gradual progression from D grade to C grade and then to B and finally reaching A grade is more practical than asking for a sudden rise.
There exist alternatives to college- If a child is not good at studies, it does not mean that he or she does not possess any other skill needed for a job. No doubt, a college is an established institution where the essential mastery for the subsequent career can be learnt. Despite this, there are other options available that they can choose from, based on their natural flair. The chance of success, in pursuing their own self-interest, is fairly high. A teenager, who is not academically inclined, can opt for acting, sports or armed forces as a career ("When the Pressure to Excel Gets Out of Hand"). These are equally good choices leading to a rewarding career. In short, the bright future beckons those who are willing to put in their whole-hearted efforts to craft the career chosen by them.
Conclusion
Looking at the current situation, it can be easily concluded that there is an intense pressure on youth to excel at the school level so that their entry in a college becomes a smooth affair. Students are compelled to do extra to maintain the competitive edge. The pressure of transitioning to college comes from all concerned- parents, peers and schools. The result is: undue stress experienced by the youngsters. (They are made to believe, by the repeated rejections by colleges, that) they could be the best person in the world but still not good enough (Shiels). As a side effect, the teenage, supposed to be the pleasant part of life, is getting afflicted with too much pressure to perform. Considering the gravity of the situation, there is an urgent need to scale down expectations to the realistic level and present the option, if the situation demands, of a career different from the one requiring college education. This will allow the youngsters to enjoy their adolescent without being burdened by the demands of subsequent jobs. College education is one of the several options available to teenagers. Career can be built with or without a college. The only requirement is the undivided focus on whatever one chooses to pursue.
Works Cited
Shiels, Meghan Kelly. "SiOWfa15: Science in Our World: Certainty and Controversy." SiOWfa15 Science in Our World Certainty and Controversy. Sites.psu.edu, 7 Sept. 2015. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. <https://sites.psu.edu/siowfa15/2015/09/07/is-society-putting-too-much-stress-on-high-school-students/>.
Niederberger, Mary. "Pressure to Excel Can Create Too Much Tension for Teens."Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. PG Publishing Co., Inc, 1 Mar. 2012. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. <http://www.post-gazette.com/local/north/2012/03/01/Pressure-to-excel-can-create-too-much-tension-for-teens/stories/201203010358>.
Brooklyn, Rockel L. "Too Much Pressure." Teen Ink. Emerson Media. n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. <http://www.teenink.com/college_guide/college_essays/article/3482/Too-Much-Pressure/>.
Kaur, Sargunjot. "Academic Pressure." Doctors, Patient Care, Health Education, Medical Research. Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Oct. 2013. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. <http://www.pamf.org/teen/life/stress/academicpressure.html>.
"When the Pressure to Excel Gets Out of Hand." HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics, 21 Nov. 2015. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. <https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/school/Pages/When-the-Pressure-to-Excel-Gets-Out-of-Hand.aspx>.
