Many students quietly suffer through the pressures that school creates.
Some feel pressure to succeed from their parents.
“My most difficult class right now is Pre-Calculus,” Devon Merricks, junior, said. “It is hard because of the very long and complicated formulas. I’m currently taking many dual enrollment and AP classes to prepare for college. Studying for my next test is probably what brings me the most stress in the day-to-day school life. If I had to choose where the most pressure comes from, I’d say my parents because they very well want me to succeed. In my eyes, success means good grades and accomplishing goals. When I imagine my future, I believe that both grades and enjoying the experience are necessary to succeed.”
Others feel the majority of the pressure from themselves.
“If I had to pick my hardest class, I’d say AP Lang even though it’s really not that bad or hard,” Naomi Gregory, junior, said. “It just consists of more work than my other classes. I am preparing ahead for college with my college credit classes and dual enrollment. Deadlines and constant work is the most stressful thing for me while also keeping my grades up. I feel most of the pressure from myself because of my fear of failure. Success to me is finally being stress free about financial things, work, etc. But mostly just being happy about where I am in life. I think both grades and enjoying the experience life brings are important in the sense that I want to make sure to be on top of my priorities but also enjoy the luxuries of my life after.”
“Pre- calc is definitely the hardest because it’s very different than my other math classes,” Peyton Owen, junior, said. “I am taking AP classes currently in preparation for college. I’d say that out of all classes, pre- calc and APUSH stress me out the most every day. I feel more pressure from myself than from parents or teachers because I want to be perfect. When I think about success in my future, I imagine being married and being able to be a stay- at- home mom. I think enjoying the experience and grades are equally important to me because I won’t enjoy it as much if I prioritize one way over the other.”
The experience of life is more important to some students than having good grades.
“My hardest class is AP Lang because I’m a terrible writer, and the class gives a lot of work, Cole Estep, junior, said. “I am taking my AP class to better be prepared for college one day. I think the most stress comes from the constant amount of work and how it’s getting to be too much. I feel the most pressure from myself when it comes to school work and grades. I think enjoying the experience is more important than grades because as someone who is already failing, why would I want to fail and also be miserable?”
