By Emely Anaya Ortiz
Opinions Editor
At Crete Monee High School, a growing number of students have expressed their concerns about the increasing academic pressure they face on a day-to-day basis. While some students believe they can manage and keep up with the work given to them, others believe the work is overwhelming and could be significantly reduced.
Laron Mitchell stresses out about getting good grades. Photo by Zariyah Mitchell.
“The school systems in the school are useful if people actually use them since they make you feel like somebody is there for you. They have your back,” Junior Elijah Clemons said.
Some believe that the resources the high school provides could be helpful for other students who are feeling academic pressure if they truly use them and reach out for help.
“I built a routine so during school I get all my work done, I go home and do what I have to do, like sports, and at night I make time to do more work,” Junior Caedman Vanderhoogt said.
Creating a routine can help reduce stress and build confidence. This can leave enough time to do schoolwork and improve academic performance.
“I feel like it’s fair because your grades are what you reflect on, and your work ethic reflects on that, too. If you don’t do enough work or if you do turn in assignments, then I feel like that’s a good reflection on your grades,” Junior Laila Anderson said.
Certain students believe the grading system in high school is “fair” because it is up to them to complete their assignments. A student’s grades are something they can reflect on and improve, letting them move forward and guiding them to do better.
“Messages from parents and society are very influential, especially when students buy into that narrative. Some parents believe that success in school helps set up their children for success and survival in the future,” social worker Ms. Gruber said. “Other parents didn’t complete high school or enjoy it much when they were younger, so they don’t put much value in the expectations of an education. Each of these things impacts students, their own attitudes, and the effort they choose to put into their education.”
Gruber went on to say that it can be hard for teenagers to see the big picture of what is ahead of them in life, since they simply haven’t had that experience yet.
“I think expectations from the school are often blown off or dismissed by students because they believe these expectations are set by adults who don’t ‘get it.’ It’s unfortunate because once these students realize that they do need a high school education to accomplish many of their goals and to achieve the lifestyle they want, they’ve set themselves up for a longer and more challenging road ahead to accomplish it,” Ms. Gruber said.
While parents strongly believe the education of their children is what guides them to a better future, other parents don’t feel the same. Opinions from parents greatly affect a student’s viewpoint and determines how much effort they put into completing their schoolwork. Many students put school aside as they do not feel other adults understand their daily struggles.
This mentality can cause students to struggle in the future as they decide they want to fulfill their dreams later on in life.
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