Kaylee’s desk is full of schoolwork.

Photo Credit: Kaylee, 11th grade

Whether it’s school, sports, college preparation, or extracurriculars, some students at GCDS feel overwhelmed with the amount of pressure put on them. Parents are often the source of this, but the way students cope varies from student to student.

Students feel that the type of pressure they receive from their parents the most is academic performance. Junior George feels that he needs to get good grades to live up to his parent’s expectations. He says, “They stress me out about academics mostly.” He feels that he needs to get good grades to live up to his parents’ expectations. Similarly, freshman Elle says, “They have very high expectations for me, but they also try to support me. At times though, the pressure can be a little over the top and the support doesn’t match.” 

Family members’ past successes often cause students to feel an indirect obligation to exceed or meet these successes. They range from colleges attended to career or athletic achievements. Jayne, another junior, says, “I have big shoes to fill, and have to live up to expectations. I feel the most stress with college preparation, but also in athletics and academics.”

Kaylee’s dinner table is where she really feels the most parental pressure at home.

Photo Credit: Kaylee, 11th grade

Some students at GCDS think that this pressure negatively affects their school days and interactions with others. For Jordyn, a junior, all of this pressure takes the excitement and curiosity out of her school life. She says, “It negatively affects my schoolwork and life. I get that they want me to succeed and go to college because that’s the societal norm, but sometimes their tactics end up making me hate school.” Due to this stress, some students feel that they can’t really enjoy school since they are too worried about their grades and their future.

The view that students have on their parents applying stress is not all negative, though. Elle, a 9th grader, stated, “The pressure my parents put on me does make me improve, so while It’s annoying and stressful, it’s beneficial to my learning.” George agreed and noted, “This stress gives me both positive and negative results because it’s irritating, but it gets me to actually do it.” These two students feel that the stress from their parents actually helps them in school and benefits their daily lives when it comes to getting things done.

Some students do not fall on either side of this issue because they choose to ignore any stress that they receive altogether. Al, a junior says, “My parents try to pressure me, but I don’t really listen. Kinda depends on how I’m feeling and which parent is pressuring me. My mom is more intimidating.” 

Kaylee finds this quiet corner a good place to work during the day.

Photo Credit: Carolina, 11th grade

Parents view things differently than students, saying that they want what is best for their children. Two parents within the GCDS community say that they do not apply any extra stress on their children, and additionally, they try to support their children with love and encouragement. Every parent is different in the kind of demand that they put on their children, even parents within the same home. 

When asked if he puts any kind of stress on his children, Mr. Konigsberg, father of four teenagers, says, “sometimes asking if homework is done or checking in to see how their day went adds stress but it’s unintentional.” 

Mrs. Allen, a Spanish teacher, and mother to an 8th grader offers a slightly different perspective, saying, “As parents who are both teachers, we also don’t allow excuses. When it comes to extracurriculars, she has made choices and she knows there are sacrifices that come with that. We don’t put any family pressure on her. She may put a little on herself, but I would say it is healthy.” 

While some students at GCDS believe that they are receiving too much parental stress, parents in the community claim that they are not putting any unnecessary pressure on their children.