Today’s teens too focused on competition

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By no means is being a teenager an easy task. With conflicting emotions, constant drama and concerned parents, kids are often left feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
In today’s world, teens are in an ongoing struggle to maintain grades, friendships and juggle as many activities as they can fit into their schedule. Apparently, it has become unacceptable to be anything less than perfect.
From personal experience, I can testify that there are many days when I don’t get to start working on homework until 9 at night because I’ve been on-the-go since waking up at 6 that morning. Society has developed the unspoken idea that everything must be done as fast and efficiently as possible. While this might be ideal when it comes to fast food and texting, this way of thinking only leaves teens feeling burnt out.
A combination of pressure from both parents and peers to compete both academically and athletically can only add to the stress, which accumulates over time. Now, more than ever, kids are being pushed to excel and expand their knowledge and skills in numerous areas of expertise. Teens have become so goal-oriented that, at times, it seems their only drive is to beat their peers in as many things as possible.
More often than not, teenagers lose sight of realistic goals and instead, extra stress is added because we fail to live up to an impossible standard. But what happens when the pressure becomes too much to handle? Often, breakdowns and rebellion can be associated with the idea that teenagers are simply overworked and are looking for an outlet in which to find comfort.
At the end of the day, the solution to this stress is to just step back and take a break from it all. Watch a little TV, update your Facebook profile, eat some carbs. After all, being a teenager should not only be about growing up and taking on responsibility but also having fun.
Unfortunately, this idea is often forgotten when it comes to trying to plan out your future. Although prepping for a higher education and a successful career should take precedence over watching the latest episode of “Gossip Girl,” the reality is that everyone has limits. The question then becomes, how does one find a happy medium between their breaking point and success?
– By MADISON SUMMERS, Susquehannock High School

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