"It is a marathon year of tests, stress and sleepless nights," reporter Jonathan Kaufman writes. Students feel pressure to participate in as many extracurricular activities as possible to enhance their college resumes. They are taking "advanced placement courses," which are on the college level and require passing a rigorous examination to receive college credit for them. They are visiting college campuses and filling out applications. They are taking after-school courses to prepare themselves for their College Board examinations.
One survey of 2,700 middle- and upper-income students in San Francisco found that juniors felt "often or always" stressed by schoolwork. About 75% had stress-related physical problems such as headaches, insomnia, and exhaustion. Over 25% used energy drinks and over-the-counter caffeine pills to keep going, and 9% admitted to using controlled substances like Ritalin and Adderall.
Parents, teachers, and counselors often try to persuade juniors to take it easy and find time to relax. The pressure does not necessarily come from adults, but from a teen's peer group.
Labels: pressures, stress, schoolwork
Posted By: Aspen Education Group