For many M-A students, managing demanding classes, time-intensive sports, and other extracurricular activities can be a struggle. They face pressure from parents, coaches, teachers, and even themselves to excel in all aspects of their lives.
Sophomore Julia Maggio plays tennis at M-A and club soccer for the Stanford Strikers. In addition to challenging and time-consuming classes, the amount of expectation to do well puts a lot of pressure on students like her.“I usually try and get everything done because I’m just so nervous about what will happen if I don’t,” Maggio said.
Aside from focusing on current commitments, students are expected to prepare for college and keep their grades looking good on their applications, which usually means having all A’s. For many students, this letter grade has become a measure of worth, and seeing it drop below an A can be devastating.
At the same time, many M-A students spend time working in jobs to strengthen college applications.
People juggling demanding sports, challenging classes, and other extracurriculars often have a hard time managing their multiple commitments. If grades drop too low, athletes are often faced with harsh consequences. “They’ll kick you off the team for a little,” Freshman Sasha Massaband said, explaining how her ability to finish schoolwork could affect dance as well. “That can be a lot of pressure.”
For senior Meghan Lam, success is both an external expectation and an internal goal. “There’s pressure from my parents as well as pressure from my own self because I want to do well in life,” she said. Teens in Silicon Valley face increased pressure due to the presence of highly accomplished companies such as Apple, Google, and Meta in their vicinity. The amount of wealth concentrated in the area pushes people to strive for higher standards.
Many teens are compelled to follow the model of their parents, especially if they work in a successful occupation. This causes many students’ lives to revolve around their futures, and an internalized expectation to excel.
Despite the pressure many teens face today, students can find unique ways to get work done efficiently. When asked for stress management tips, students suggested having study groups with friends, making to-do lists, and minimizing unnecessary time-consuming activities such as scrolling on social media for too long. Whether it be studying with peers or setting up helpful cell phone reminders, finding a personalized way to stay on top of work can help reduce stress.
