The modern world has become a pressure cooker for young minds. The new generation has seen an era where the only thing considered valuable in a student is a high GPA score. Without it, as many believe, they won't become distinguished figures in society. This all comes back to the common myth that it’s about how you did in school rather than what you do as an individual.
While it is true that students want to see success for themselves, achieve this goal has pushed many of them beyond the limits: having sleepless nights, skipping meals, or sacrificing time which could be spent with family or friends. However, pressure can impact us in much more serious ways (depression, suicidal feelings) too. Firstly, we need to know what the pressure is and where it's coming from.
Pressure is the feeling caused by situations which can have extremely negative results when not carried out properly. The immediate reaction to pressure is very often the feeling of stress. Your brain's hypothalamus is in charge of managing your response to stress. Once this response is triggered, it sends signals to the pituitary gland (the gland which releases hormones into your bloodstream) and the adrenal medulla (the part of an adrenal gland which controls hormones that initiate the flight or fight response).
Stress is divided into two subcategories: Positive and negative. Positive stress impacts us in a (you guessed it!) positive way. This kind of stress is the reaction which equips you with the adrenaline needed to be able to do a certain task. A good example is found in sports: when you’re playing on a baseball team and you’re up to hit. After your second “strike” (baseball term for a missed shot), missing the third bat would have a negative result (because after 3 strikes, you're out). When positive stress occurs, your body is channeled with adrenaline to make the last shot. This impacts you positively, raising your chances of hitting the ball and scoring points.
Negative stress has the opposite effect on people. A negative stress reaction worsens your ability and self-confidence. This kind of stress happens in situations which don't usually have a great positive outcome in the short term either way. For example, you need notes to study for a test but you find out you lost your notes. This may immediately create negative stress, lowering your self-esteem and belief in your ability to perform well. Even if you somehow get all the notes back, negative stress has already impacted you and your health. This is why the pressure in school can be harmful to many students who can't cope with stress.
Pressure can affect anyone: whether in a recreational setting or a work setting. The stress that follows, however, decides the outcome. When taken positively, it helps us react better to certain situations. However, when taken negatively, it can harm us emotionally for life. It’s never a good thing to overwork, even if you're under a lot of pressure. When under stress, always consider the value of your own health over a grade. When it comes to success, it is your passion that counts. Believe in yourself, learn from your failures, and whenever you feel stuck in a rut, just tell yourself everything is okay and keep going.