High school gives students a whole new realm of freedom compared to middle school. But with this freedom and other benefits also comes responsibilities and new problems. Adults need to know more about students’ lives.
Adults often fail to look closely enough to understand what students go through. For example, some parents neglect to inquire about their child’s classroom environment or ask how the teacher behaves towards them. Additionally, some teachers place an excessive amount of pressure on students, leading them to become overwhelmed and feel like giving up. This can contribute to feelings of depression. Unfortunately, some parents overlook signs of depression and fail to ask them important questions such as “Why are you struggling in your classes?” or “Do you need someone to talk to?”. Mental health is a pressing issue for many high school students, and it should be prioritized in schools.
As Freshman Angela Asumpta wisely said, “Teachers need to establish a good relationship with their students”. It is crucial for teachers to get to know their students, understand their preferred learning methods, and create an environment where students are not afraid to ask questions for fear of judgment. Support is more accessible for those with resources, as some individuals may have the means to hire tutors. However, tutors may not fully understand the student’s unique needs and learning style. Therefore, it is not solely the responsibility of teachers, but also of students and tutors, to foster a supportive learning environment.
Teenagers have many pressures, from homework to what to wear each day. “School pays so much attention to the girls’ clothes but not the guys,” freshman Angela Asumpta said. The dress code is sometimes targeted towards female students, and it is unfair. It makes some people feel targeted, and while boys do get dress coded, students don’t see it or hear about it as much. “There are some stereotypes between boy and girl students,” such as guys never paying attention, girls always causing problems, all girls causing drama, guys always starting fights, and girls taking drama really seriously.
Social stresses like drama can cause stress for many students. “The drama is too much,” freshman Angela Asumpta said. Drama can be a big cause of mental health issues or can lead to fights that can happen on or off school grounds. Moreover, drama can escalate to more serious issues like legal problems, wherein one or both parties may be subject to imprisonment for the sake of school drama that could have been resolved with a simple apology.
Student life is very complex—from relationships with friends to stress with grades, students are balancing a lot. That’s why we need to make resources more accessible for students. Make sure the students aren’t scared to ask questions. These are the things about student life that people need to know.
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