When Success Hurts: The Dark Side of Academic Excellence
In today's competitive world, doing well in school, top grades, busy schedules and getting into
good colleges is often seen as the ultimate goal and is seen as the marker for success. But behind
the perfect transcripts and flawless report cards, there is often a silent struggle unfolding, one
which is not often talked about but one which severely overshadows an individual's life.
Academic pressure now not only refers to the stress students feel to perform well in school, but
the need to reach the unrealistic expectations set by parents, teachers and often mainly
themselves… Often, for teens, this constant cycle of pressure to always do the best can lead to
anxiety, burnout and low self-esteem. Being consumed by the constant fear of failure and not
living up to expectations may also affect their physical health and social life, making it
challenging to maintain balance across all areas of their life..
The persistent and relentless chase for excellence begins to strip the joy and curiosity out of
learning as it begins to engulf a student's life. Instead of being encouraged, they often begin to
view education as a burden, something they must endure. The main thing that is often
overlooked is that success isn't just about grades. Doing well in school, getting the best grades,
etc, means very little if it's at the risk of one's mental well-being or happiness. Academic
achievement will mean nothing if it is at the cost of relationships, friendships and most
importantly, one's mental peace.
While some pressure can motivate, too much can harm both one's mental well-being and their
academic performance. This is why one needs to have enough self awareness to know when they
need to take a step back and check in with themself. This can include setting healthy boundaries,
seeking support from trusted resources (i.e. friends, family members or even professionals) or
simply taking regular breaks and asking yourself, “Do I have the capacity within me to continue
with this?” These small acts of self-awareness can hence help to prevent long-term burnout.
We’ve all had days where it feels like we are doing everything we can, and it still isn’t enough.
The pressure builds up quietly until even the smallest tasks feel heavy. It took me a while to
realise that stepping back didn’t mean I was giving up, it just meant that I was finally listening to
myself. And that kind of honesty? It's hard, but also healing and worth it in the end.
Blog/substack: https://overthinkingoutloud11.substack.com/
Instagram: @_
thebraindump_
Amaya Numair Hazir