A year ago, I navigated what might just be the most exasperating experience of my life—the college application gauntlet for my eldest son. If you’ve never had the joy of tackling an endless stack of forms, recommendation letters, scholarship applications, and the notorious FAFSA, prepare yourself.
If you have a teenager, you’ve likely been holding your breath for the past few years. I’m not just referring to the usual adolescent angst that we all endure; I’m talking about the overwhelming, hyper-competitive madness that has overtaken American high schools. It’s gotten so out of hand that after my youngest finishes high school next year, I’m seriously contemplating homeschooling my other kids.
Why, you ask? High school is a far cry from what it used to be, and I’m grateful I experienced it in the late ’80s rather than today. Frankly, if high schools don’t chill out soon, we’ll continue to see our teenagers grappling with excessive stress and anxiety, which they’ll inevitably carry into college, often without the close support of family.
For instance, did you know there’s such a thing as an 8.75 GPA? Yep, it exists! Everything in high school today is supersized, including good old As. Earned an A in American History Honors and only got 4 points for it? Silly you! It’s time to up your game and load up your schedule to maximize those GPA bonus points.
Honors classes used to be for the truly exceptional students; now, they cater to the “average achievers.” If you’re even slightly above average, you better be in AP or dual-enrollment classes. A high school transcript without six to eight AP courses simply won’t impress anyone anymore.
But it’s not just inflated GPAs and packed class schedules turning our teens into resume-building machines. High schoolers are graduating with a slew of college credits from AP and DE classes, which can be a financial boon. However, we’re sending 18-year-olds onto college campuses as juniors, pressuring them to declare a major before they even set foot on campus. Making life-altering decisions at 18 rarely ends well.
We’re also seeing a significant shift in high school athletics, which resemble collegiate programs more than ever. Many schools now employ full-time trainers and coaches—not the ones who moonlight as PE teachers. Some even recruit student athletes, while private schools lure in their stars with tuition credits. Practices happen almost every day, including weekends and mandatory summer sessions.
Extracurriculars, clubs, and student government are no different, emphasizing leadership, service, fundraising, and innovation—all with obligatory meetings, projects, and commitments. All of this is expected from teens aged 14 to 17, and we wonder why they’re so stressed and exhausted.
Recently, a high school graduate asked me for a recommendation letter for her college sorority rush. She sent me her resume, and as I perused it, I had to keep reminding myself that she was only 18. A four-page resume packed with accolades, awards, honor societies, and scholarships made me feel woefully inadequate. But then I realized: there’s a strong chance that she and the thousands of others like her—who have spent four years achieving—will arrive at college completely burned out.
I’ve seen it before: the overachieving high school students reach college and essentially take a four-year nap, trying to recover from the relentless pressure to be “perfect.” Others try to maintain their frenetic schedules, only to find themselves battling depression and anxiety—something no one wants to face, especially far from home. This issue is becoming an alarming epidemic on campuses across the nation.
Currently, there is a growing trend toward alternative high schools and homeschooling during those crucial years, which many parents previously avoided due to the challenging curriculum. With the rise of state-funded online virtual schools and magnet programs, perhaps we’ll finally see a shift toward an educational approach that nurtures our teenagers rather than overwhelms them.
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In summary, the high school experience has transformed dramatically, pushing students to their limits. With increasing stress and pressure, it’s essential to consider alternatives that promote well-being over competition.
Keyphrase: CTFD High School
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