Many adults love to tell us, teenager that we should enjoy our youth while we can, and that we will think back and wish to “go back to an easier time.” Yet, it has been scientifically proven that teenagers have either the same level or higher level of stress than most adults. According to the Stress In America survey 30 percent of teens reported feeling sad or depressed and 31 percent felt overwhelmed. Another 36 percent said that the get more tired than usual and 23 percent said they’ve skipped meals. Interestingly enough, all of these negative emotions and deeds were all outcomes of stress. Logically speaking if this is repeated then it will be very unhealthy physically and/or mentally. While adults say their stress levels are around 5.1 out of 10, teenagers believe they are at around a 5.8, and although many people may say that it is just us being melodramatic that is not true. Just by looking at the outcomes of stress level tests it clearly shows that teenagers in this century have a very high stress level. Some teens have the same stress level as patients in mental hospitals and asylums.

Colleges are getting harder to get into for students every year, and there is so much competition trying to get into a “better” college than others. Everyday all middle and high schoolers have to try harder just to get scores that will either put them on the same level or above their colleagues. Also, now to get into a “good” college you must have more than just good grades. Students must have some sort of extra curricular activity or community service. Our studies, extra curricular activities, etc. all of it adds more stress on to us. Society also creates more stress for teens because our grades and the college we go to, that is what society uses to judge everyone. The only way to help students from cracking under the pressure is for our parents to show us they support us no matter what. Music, art, cooking, sports, and even just watching some television is a way to get rid of some of the stress.


<Eunice A. Kim, La Canada High School 9th Grade>