With the COVID-19 pandemic taking over our lives for the last two years, I can only sympathise with students striving to get on with their education. Whilst learning at its core should be enjoyable it can often feel like a competition; to be at the top of the class, to get the best grades, to get into the colleges and universities of your choice. Been there, done that. Not to mention that teenage years are the most unstable times in a person's life. It's the first time you are probably starting to think about who you are and who you may be. Circumstances that put students at a disadvantage don't help; physical and mental health illnesses, responsibilities and external pressures at home, along with a lack of opportunities to create the “well-rounded individuals” that are so desired by higher education boards can be extremely overwhelming. I remember being in secondary school and how much I enjoyed learning new things; I loved the logical, methodical and assuring qualities of maths, the creative aspects of English, and the dark and twisted roots of history. However, the education system itself and the seemingly self-imposed pressure to succeed, brought with it anxiety, stress and a negative association of achievements with self-worth.
Of course, much of this pressure isn’t in our heads. Education, at the heart of it all, is deep rooted in capitalism. It is unavoidable. Ultimately, the purpose of school is to prepare us for working in a capitalist economy. Only about 6% of children in the UK attend private schools, however 74% of judges are privately educated (The Guardian). 30% of the privately educated go on to earn a degree, while that is the case for only 12% of state school students (Guardian). A privately educated person is also five times more likely to send their students to private school, which continues the classist tradition of offering the bourgeoisie with a higher quality education, where students receive closer to one-to-one tuition alongside additional networking and extracurricular opportunities. This is not an opportunity bestowed to every child - it's merely a matter of which family you’re born into. The privilege of the parent grants privilege to the child and the cycle continues. It isn’t that these children don’t deserve the best education available, but that every child does. It is saddening, and whilst it is not the only factor that affects a child's chances on what they go on to achieve in their life, it certainly puts some at an extra advantage. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds will be most likely concentrated in schools that do less well in inspections and therefore those students who apply to colleges and universities will be prospectively judged and additional pressure placed on them for a circumstance they couldn't control, thus encouraging elitism. Anyway, I digress… that is a discussion for another day. I think this video analysis by Tiffany Ferg provides a really informative overview of what I mean. Even if it is referring to the US education system, the general points and sentiments are still there.
My point is that students are placed under unrealistic pressures to be high achievers. More students than ever are achieving the highest grades to get them into the top universities. But even A* equivalents are not always enough - admissions into university requires students to not only get good grades. Remember what I said about being a “well rounded individual”? Yes! Students need to be able to pull rabbits from their hats! Do you volunteer every weekend? Do you speak more than one language? Do you take part in multiple sports and creative ventures? Are you starting your own business? Have you been to space??? Okay I went overboard toward the end but you get the gist: A healthy study/life balance is out, and toxic productivity is in! Most students are overworking themselves, which encourages unhealthy habits. Cramming for an exam, which can be effective for short-term memorisation is often stressful and the student is no better off with regards to retaining any information. Many students are riddled with un-diagnosed mental health illnesses and are having to try and mould themselves into a rigid, standardised education system.
One thing that I think is great is that we have students trying to inspire hope and motivate others through the internet community collectively known as Studytube. It's a great way for peers to share ideas and give tips on how best to prepare for exams, getting into colleges and universities, and just for some online companionship. I wish it was as prevalent when I was studying for my exams, or perhaps I just didn't know about it. I do sometimes think that it is taken overboard. Not intentionally of course. Like with everything it is important not to compare yourself with others; just because one student YouTube studies for 8 hours straight, doesn't mean you have to!
I want to stress that there is never anything wrong with being a high achiever. It will just differ for everyone and you should only try and out compete yourself. Whilst school is incredibly important, don’t forget to take time out for yourself, and if it is safe to do so, be open with friends, family and teachers on how you are doing. They care about you and will be more than happy to support you.
Zarreena Brown