Academic pressure, a concept you'll probably be familiar with if you've ever been to school. I go to a normal state school, but I know that grammar schools and private schools can have even worse academic pressures than public comprehensive schools. But first, what is academic pressure?
Academic pressure is 'a situation where learners get overwhelmed by educational demands'. According to Transformation Network, academic pressure makes students rush against time, making them use more energy to achieve educational goals. But I could tell you all about what researchers think, but what is it really, to me, a GCSE student?
At school, I'm often known as the 'smart kid'. And while that may be true in some respects, that doesn't mean I don't try. Because I've always somewhat done well in school, there's always been a pressure to do well, to beat my last score, to beat everyone else. Some days, I'll spend hours and hours revising for a test that means absolutely nothing, because I think that it will make everyone around me happy. This was a toxic habit I got into at the start of year 10, but by the middle of the year, my computer science teacher actually expressed his concern for me, telling me he thought I put too much pressure on myself, and that I need to relax and stress less. Before that, I don't think I'd ever thought of that. And while I do think it's healthy to try your best, from that point on, I made it my mission to not put so much pressure on myself to do well, but still know it was okay to want to do well, but not overwork myself. My teacher helped me with this, and would genuinely tell me to barely for his own tests, he would tell me in school "No more than an hour tonight", and after a while, I began to take his advice. While last year, my grades in computer science weren't really paying off, as I've gone into year 11, I've got a high 7 and two high 6s, compared to last years' 4s and 5s. A lot of this was changing the way I revised, and putting less pressure on myself. I truly value teachers like this, who truly understand you, despite me even telling him that I used to revise for 4 hours for one measly 20 mark in class test. It's these kind of teachers who show the rest of the adults up.
So where did this pressure inside of me come from?
I don't think I'll ever truly know why I feel how I feel. And don't get me wrong, as much as I said I stopped putting a lot of pressure on myself last year in computer science, that doesn't mean its gone. There will always be that little voice in my head telling me to revise more, telling me to do more. But who put it there in the first place? Of course, I've always put pressure on myself as well, because, like I said earlier, I'm almost used to doing well in school. But obviously, the want to do well in school and the need to do very well in school are almost total opposites. The want to do well is natural, most people want to do well and succeed. But the need to do well in school has turned into something it doesn't have to be. Most teachers, or adults for that matter, will tell you that in order to succeed in life you must do well in school. In fact, on our first day of year 11, the first thing we were told is that we needed to do well otherwise we would be embarrassed on results day. And while, yes, if you don't get the grades you want it can be upsetting, telling that to a bunch of sleepy 15 year olds who just want to get this over and done with isn't the best move. Teachers also often compare students to each other, or expect the best grades possible out of students, when this might not be possible for every student. Often, you're talked down to if you get a bad grade, you're treated differently, and not always in a good way. Some teachers might offer constructive feedback, while others may now have a negative view on you because you failed one, tiny, in class test. We need more teachers who are willing to work with their students, who are willing to talk over their paper with them, or run revision sessions with them. I am quite lucky in the fact that most, if not all of my teachers, are willing to offer feedback. My computer science teacher is always running revision sessions, (and to be honest, giving me life advice. Can you tell he's my favourite teacher?), my English teacher is always willing to go over tests with people in break and lunch, and my form tutor who is also my chemistry teacher, always gives me science information before a test and gives me feedback if I ever ask for it (and after teaching me for 5 years, he knows what kind of questions I do well on etc). But I know not everyone is this lucky. Not every teacher is willing to give up time and brain space to every student, which, at the end of the day, doesn't look so good on them.
Another huge factor to academic pressure is parents, carers and adults. I know for a fact that my parents have high expectations of me (almost too high), and while they've seemed to have reigned it in in the last year, it's still quite hard sometimes. My Mum once told me that she wanted me to get all 9s in my science as she got all As in hers, which immediately puts pressure on me to do well, despite As roughly equalling a 7. Adults in your life can also play a huge part in academic pressure, whether it's family members comparing you to their own children/friends, or people you know constantly asking you how you're doing in school.
Finally, classmates can also play a huge role in contributing to academic pressure. Do you compare your test results to your friends? I know it's something that happens in my group of friends, and while most of the time it's harmless, if you're already a burnt out academic overachiever (like me), sometimes thinking you've done really well just to find out that someone else beat you can sometimes push you over the edge. But it's not just this. I know for me, I'm often perceived as a 'smart kid', but sometimes being the 'smart kid' doesn't mean you're going to get all 9s, no matter how much you want them. A lot of people will tell me I shouldn't complain about revising and workload because I'm 'naturally smart', and I'm 'going to get all 9s', when really I'm not. I'm not predicted a 9 in anything, and I'm equally not as 'naturally smart' as everyone thinks I am. I work really hard for most of my grades, but many people just don't get that.
So what does academic pressure do to people? I know for me that I'm often anxious, and stressed, and feeling like I have to do well because I did last time, or my friend did well and I 'should' be better than them, etc etc. I know that I often overwork for things, I'm always expecting more from myself, and to be honest, is that really healthy? No, it's not. Like I said earlier, it's okay to want to do well, but pushing yourself too far is where it gets dangerous.
So just remember this:
You can push yourself, and strive to do well, but never go too far. If you need sleep, sleep. It's not going to help you if you're up revising in the dead of night when really you should be resting your mind. If you need to cry, cry. Have your floor time. Play your sad playlist. Do whatever helps. It's okay to take breaks. Yes, take that Tiktok break. While I've not completed my GCSEs yet, I've learnt over the last year that often overworking leads to worse results, because you're so stressed. Try and learn what is right for you. If you're struggling with mental health and stress, know what makes you stressed, so you can try and combat it. While I listed everyone else who can put pressure on you, the main culprit is probably you, as a result of everybody else. Take care of yourself when studying and revising, make it fun, and never feel like you have to when it's not the real thing. A mock is a mock for a reason, and nothing else. All in all, be kind to yourself, you'll do great!
See you next time,
Lillian.
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