Mental Health in high school
#mentalhealthawarenessmonth
In movies and shows, high school is often glamorized as this fun and exciting experience. However, it's not always rainbows and sunshine. The pressure of growing up, excelling in academics, and maintaining a good social life can be pretty miserable.
The high school year is the peak of every teenager growing and finding themselves. Our insecurities develop, and we often compare ourselves to other people around us. We go on social media, and we see how perfect people's lives are; we constantly remind ourselves that we're not good enough. Beating insecurities is honestly a work in progress; it's not as easy as what people say it is.
However, these are some things that have helped me:
People don't really care. I know that sounds wrong, but those four words are self-explanatory. You're currently breaking out a little? Most of the time, no one's going to notice it unless you point it out. Because we see ourselves in the mirror every day, we notice every little change happening. Did you gain a few pounds after Christmas dinner? It's alright, you deserved that good meal. I think we focus on ourselves and our insecurities so much that we don't really notice the change in someone else's image.
If you find yourself looking through people's Instagram while comparing your life to theirs, think of it this way. What percent of people's life do you think gets posted on social media? Probably less than 10%, right? It's normal for people to post the pretty parts, not the ugly parts. Everyone faces problems every single day and you're not alone! Your feelings are valid. Though you scroll and tell yourself "I want to be like them," trust me when I say that some people are doing the same to yours.
2. Trying to get that A+ everytime
Grades, grades, and grades. Whether the pressure comes from you or something else, grades are definitely important in high school. It will be part of your college applications, and having good grades, in general, is just satisfying. Each person is different and telling my readers to not care so much is honestly hypocritical. Unfortunately, grades also come with stress. We're always worried about how we did on that one test and how we're going to pass the class. Worries, on worries, on worries. It's a never-ending cycle of worries and relief.
Though I'm still trying to manage my school life, these are some helpful pieces of advice:
There will be days that you feel like you're not in the mood to do anything; days with zero motivation. Especially with this pandemic, it's really hard to manage schoolwork. Give yourself a break, just to do whatever you'd like. Take it as a rest day, just for you to feel better and regain your strength back.
Ask for help when needed. Teachers are always thrilled to explain and go over the lesson; it shows that you're really trying in the class.
Do not base your whole self-esteem on your grades. A letter on a piece of paper does not determine who you are.
Have some fun; let loose. High school doesn't last for long and you shouldn't remember your whole high school life as four whole years of doing assignments. Take it as a reward for all your achievements!
Ultimately, your health comes first. Don't push yourself to the point where you're barely eating or sleeping. Your health affects your mood, which also affects your day. When you have bad days, you won't do well on your assignments.
Don't stress over a bad grade you got on a test too much. It's only one test out of the many that you will be taking. Take it as an opportunity to learn from your mistakes and see where you went wrong. There are always more tests, projects, and homework that will be able to bring your grade up.
Sometimes our nerves kick in and we get anxious over a test or a project. However, it won't matter that much in a few weeks or months. It will all pass, and I bet you won't even remember it; life goes on and you will get past it.
3. Life Outside of School
Whether it's dealing with friends, social life, etc. We've all struggled with that and it can negatively affect our life as a whole. Over time, there will be people who we're going to lose connection with. We're always meeting new people and some will stay while some may not. Some will cause us a lot of damage while some will bring us the brightest days.
Here's my take on the "life outside of school":
Be kind to everyone! You never really know what someone is going through. It's always nice to include people and make them feel like they matter.
Don't follow the crowd. I know it's easy to want to fit in and be like others. But if doing it makes you unhappy, don't do it. Come to terms with what you really want and who you really are. Never force yourself to do something that you don't want to.
Not everyone will stay in your life forever. Friendships come and go; you can't force a toxic friendship to maintain its bond. Sometimes you just have to let go. There are still many people out there who would love to have a friend like you.
Make sure to have a good relationship with yourself also. Take care of yourself physically and mentally. Self-love isn't easy for some people, but if there's one person that will always stick around with you your whole life, it's you. Make sure to be there for yourself and grow every day as an individual.
Of course, there are many more problems that high school students face every day. These are some common problems that many students, including myself, struggle with. When needed, don't be afraid to ask for help. Sometimes talking to someone and letting it all out can help relieve a little pain. Bottling your sadness and feelings isn't the healthiest way to deal with things. Whether it's talking to the counselor, a teacher, or a friend, don't invalidate your own feelings. Happy Mental Health Awareness Month!
Don't forget to check in on your friends and thank you for reading this lengthy article:)
- Halena C.