The pressure to get into college and to be two steps ahead of others causes students to take too large a course load, which ultimately leads to mental harm among high schoolers.
When looking at and building a schedule for a high school student, there is a trend.
“I feel the need to receive the highest of grades because if I don’t, I don’t think I could get into college, which my parents make clear is the only way to be successful, ” Olivia Burton, ‘28, said.
Most students build their schedules with classes they think will make them look like the “perfect student”. They often fill their schedules with all honors and AP classes, overlooking the courses they are genuinely interested in.
These classes may look good on your college application, but they do not help you feel your best. They work students to exhaustion, often resulting in burnout before they even finish their senior year.
Orinda News wrote that students take an average of 7.38 honors or AP courses throughout their high school careers, but here at Olentangy Local Schools, that doesn’t match students’ schedules.
At Olentangy Berlin, there are many students who take seven honors or AP courses just in their freshman year.
“I have taken all honors and APs throughout my high school career so far and I definitely feel the pressure to perform well and that I am expected to get good grades,” Natalie Davies ‘28 said.
Students may feel pressured by parents, teachers and even themselves to take this class load. Many students think that if they don’t, they won’t be able to attend college, but that is not true; students can still take fun classes and succeed.
Colleges tend to look for well-rounded students. Someone who isn’t a mirror of every other student who strives to be perfect. Find something that makes students different. Something that makes students stand out.
Throughout high school, the more time students spend outside of school working, the more the line blurs between their school life and personal life. If students have nothing to do other than school, they are more likely to get bored or burned out.
Students become more focused on good grades than on learning the content, which will lead to conflicts later in their school career because they won’t know what they need to.
The perfect student doesn’t exist, so don’t aim for it. When students choose classes or make their schedule, pick classes they like and are interested in instead of trying to become the perfect student.
