When some think of high school, they may think of it as one of the happiest times of their lives. High school can be a period of personal growth where one develops self-identity, gains independence, makes lasting friendships, etc. This period in life can shape one’s sense of self and development, academically or socially.
I would say that high school wasn’t all that it’s made out to be in that respect. I’m not saying high school was horrible, but it was an eye-opening experience when focusing on the topic of mental health. Because of this, there wasn’t an emphasis on creating a positive environment where all students could learn alongside each other. This sense of competition was instilled early on through rankings, the number of honors/AP courses taken, how few hours one slept, etc. This competition would typically culminate in how many college acceptances were received and if they were ones of lower acceptance rates/prestige to show how “hard” one worked during their high school career.
As you can probably imagine, this emphasis on competition didn’t always translate to positive mental health or healthy depictions. Sometimes, my peers would experience extreme burnout when constantly pressured to perform academically. I saw this firsthand during my four years, when I saw the physical toll often manifested in unhealthy habits to maintain their grades. In some cases, breakdowns could happen around finals or AP testing, when this constant pressure would reach a breaking point for some of my peers.
With this in mind, I think it’s fair to say that mental health wasn’t a high priority. The focus on fostering an environment prioritizing high test results and acceptances from the best colleges around the state or abroad was apparent early on. There was a need to perform or meet the expectations provided when attending a school that had built a reputation for this level of success. This would present great difficulty in allowing one to process their feelings in a healthy manner. From my viewpoint, there wasn’t any concrete conversation surrounding mental health or the opportunity to speak openly, due to this going against the established culture.
Consequently, this lack of communication concerning mental health perpetuated this stigma of speaking candidly about one’s experience in this competitive environment. There seemed to be an almost unspoken notion of not talking about feeling burned out or anything to this effect. Exploring mental health with an open mind seemed distant or undervalued. The stigma associated with mental health was greater than the potential to change the narrative that it’s okay to take time to prioritize one’s mental health.
This leads to the need to discuss mental health openly to see the potential for a more inclusive environment where students can learn. There could have been a greater impact on my classmates if there had been a priority to promote mental health. The potential to create a more welcoming learning environment without this immense pressure to meet expectations was there, but not implemented with intent. There was room to introduce mental health through counseling sessions each year, everyday conversation, or interactive activities throughout the school year. Such efforts could be a step in the right direction to shift the narrative that mental health is something to advocate for instead of downplaying.
Mental health is an important aspect to touch on, especially for high school students who are in an impressionable time in their lives. The ability to advocate for mental health can allow students to develop healthier habits or a mindset that allows for personal growth and overall happiness in life. One doesn’t have to feel that one’s self-worth is defined by one’s academic success, but rather by who one is as a person in terms of values or morals, for example.
This being said, there is still room for improvement to work toward breaking the stigma associated with mental health while allowing growth opportunities. Mental health can still be seen as a topic of lesser value, given the stigma associated with it or the prioritization of academic success. Despite this, emphasizing the need for mental health can make a difference in how one views oneself and further conversations. Progress is still to be made to allow for more mental health initiatives, especially during a formative time such as high school. Mental health is not something to overlook when understanding how it plays a major role in one’s development.
~Lauren Montoya
Lauren Montoya is a Southern California native with a background in sociology and liberal studies. She hopes to become a licensed mental health clinician in the future. Lauren is passionate about animal welfare, mental health, and the arts.