For many high school students here in Las Vegas, a student’s worth is based on their grades,
test scores, extracurriculars, and college acceptance. Students are pressured to push
themselves to their fullest in order to set themselves up for success. However, balancing all of
these responsibilities as a student can become very overwhelming and taxing. Juggling
homework, tests, leadership, and college applications can make one feel as if they
cannot afford to fall behind, and some academic stresses can lead to detrimental effects on
many students’ health, social life, and education.
One aspect of academic life that stresses a lot of students out is maintaining a good academic
standing. In this day and age, college has become a very sought-after goal, and a lot of
students feel as if they have to perfect their grades in order to get into a good school. One bad
test or unsatisfactory homework grade might seem like the end of the world to some students.
In addition, students might feel insecure about themselves compared to their peers. Students in
high school go through so many changes, and sometimes they can feel as if there is no time to
catch up. Seeing others take high level courses, earn accolades, and participate in various
extracurriculars can lead some students to think that they need to be more accomplished in
order to fit in.
Academic stresses can also distract students from properly and productively studying. Faced
with an overwhelming list of assignments and tests, students often procrastinate because they
simply don’t know where to begin. Consequently, this delay creates even greater stress when
they finally start studying. Students can lose track of time while cramming and forget to take
breaks in between, thinking that the only way to learn is to sacrifice their free time and sleep.
This lack of sleep and rest can affect students negatively and impact their ability to learn.
These are only a few reasons why we need to bring awareness to the stresses and pressures
that students here in LAS VEGAS face. Being in a city with such a diverse population means
dealing with different struggles and cases for each student. Some students have access
to tutors or college advisors to help them navigate this difficult time, while others are not as
privileged. Depending on their home life, they also might have less time to devote to their
Studies.
It is very important that we take the time to address these issues in order to prevent them from
getting worse. We owe it to our Las Vegas students to give them the tools and resources they
need to succeed. These resources could include teachers coordinating major projects and
presentations to prevent overlapping deadlines, teachers and counselors organizing helpful
events, and ensuring students have access to mental health support and tutoring services.
There are also many other ways schools can support students and make their academic lives
feel more manageable. It is important that students set reasonable goals for themselves, break
up assignments into smaller chunks, and make sure they give themselves breaks when needed.
Students do not need to pour all their energy into academics at the expense of other areas of
their lives. They can achieve high academic standards while still leaving room for personal
growth. A successful student is not defined by one grade or one accomplishment, and an
excellent education is not based on one report card. Students need to understand that in orderto make meaningful improvements in their academics, they must first take care of themselves.
Education is meant to set up success in their futures, not defeat them. By
acknowledging the problems students face, we can help them take the steps to overcome these
challenges. Let us work together as a community in Las Vegas to ensure that our youth can
achieve academic excellence while taking care of themselves along the way.
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