Learning Under Pressure
Expectations on current students
As the days pass by, and new advancements are constantly reached in all fields of study, the world seems to spin faster along as well. Changing times also bring along higher expectations. One place that is no stranger to that fact is high schools, and the largest expectation faced by teenage students is the general assumption that school is not over after grade twelve. Post -secondary education is being pushed harder on high school students, and higher education is currently eminently valued when seeking employment later in life, but these expectations can cause very high amounts of stress in young people. This will eventually diminish their quality of life, all for a degree that may not be beneficial later on, and does not guarantee success or happiness afterwards.
High schools across the nation are very familiar with issues of qualification in the workforce, having adjusted course guidelines and outcomes accordingly. As an example, take a look at PEI; CEO401 is now a required credit to receive a diploma on graduation day. The course does take a look at the various options available to students, such as taking a gap year or entering the workforce directly, but the largest emphasis is placed on comparing university and college, acceptance requirements, tuitions, program choices, and other information regarding further education in Canada.
The fact of the matter is that the decision to sign up for post-secondary schooling is definitely not the best pathway decision for many students. It comes along with a plethora of stress and sacrifice, which can be extremely difficult to deal with as a young adult. Another factor that can make this decision so much more stressful on students is pressures from peers, societal demands, and parental expectations. In a Global Survey conducted by HSBC in the summer of 2015, data shows that as many as 72% of Canadian parents have specific career paths in mind for their children when they mature (HSBC, 1).
Higher enrollment in university and college programs can definitely be seen here on Prince Edward Island, according to the Association of Universities and Colleges Canada (AUCC). According to their Trends in Higher Education: Volume 1 - Enrollment, the population of the Island has increased by just under 10% between 2000-2010, while undergraduate enrollment has increased by over triple that amount with over 30% growth in the same time period, in people aged eighteen to twenty-one years for both statistics. (Association of Colleges and Universities Canada, 28). This shows that participation in post secondary institutions has risen faster than the province’s population, and that more youth are feeling the need to attend college or university programs.
However, there are also students already buried deep within their programs. In a Student Health Survey conducted at Queen’s University in 2013, 91.7% of the 1 241 participant students reported feeling overwhelmed with everything they had to do, and 89.5% of that same sample felt exhausted with everything other than physical activity in their daily lives (Humphrys, 16). These feelings can lead to a whole host of issues, many of which relate back to a student’s mental health and well-being, which has the potential to affect all other aspects of their lives.
Education is definitely an important aspect of life, there is no doubt about that. But it should not be the only focus a young adult has, and certainly should not take over their life. It is also a massive decision to be made by teens, and putting huge expectations on them does not help make that process any easier. Parents do not always help either, even when they genuinely have their child’s best intentions on their minds. The choice to go to college or university is a very stressed one for the minds of young adults, and can often be detrimental even when students are successful at receiving their degree.
That being said, university or college education is not completely dreadful, and is a highly positive experience for many. A chance to move to a new place, meet new faces, try different activities, and make a name for themselves. Students find who they are and learn to live on their own and make their own decisions, both skills that benefit them greatly as they age. A certificate, diploma, or degree can highly benefit a student when looking to enter the workforce as companies and organizations are always on the lookout for qualified employees to fill positions. Although it can be a stressful experience, there are also many universities that are putting new mental health programs in place to aid students during those trying times.
Jillian Ferguson
June 4 2017
High schools across the nation are very familiar with issues of qualification in the workforce, having adjusted course guidelines and outcomes accordingly. As an example, take a look at PEI; CEO401 is now a required credit to receive a diploma on graduation day. The course does take a look at the various options available to students, such as taking a gap year or entering the workforce directly, but the largest emphasis is placed on comparing university and college, acceptance requirements, tuitions, program choices, and other information regarding further education in Canada.
The fact of the matter is that the decision to sign up for post-secondary schooling is definitely not the best pathway decision for many students. It comes along with a plethora of stress and sacrifice, which can be extremely difficult to deal with as a young adult. Another factor that can make this decision so much more stressful on students is pressures from peers, societal demands, and parental expectations. In a Global Survey conducted by HSBC in the summer of 2015, data shows that as many as 72% of Canadian parents have specific career paths in mind for their children when they mature (HSBC, 1).
Higher enrollment in university and college programs can definitely be seen here on Prince Edward Island, according to the Association of Universities and Colleges Canada (AUCC). According to their Trends in Higher Education: Volume 1 - Enrollment, the population of the Island has increased by just under 10% between 2000-2010, while undergraduate enrollment has increased by over triple that amount with over 30% growth in the same time period, in people aged eighteen to twenty-one years for both statistics. (Association of Colleges and Universities Canada, 28). This shows that participation in post secondary institutions has risen faster than the province’s population, and that more youth are feeling the need to attend college or university programs.
However, there are also students already buried deep within their programs. In a Student Health Survey conducted at Queen’s University in 2013, 91.7% of the 1 241 participant students reported feeling overwhelmed with everything they had to do, and 89.5% of that same sample felt exhausted with everything other than physical activity in their daily lives (Humphrys, 16). These feelings can lead to a whole host of issues, many of which relate back to a student’s mental health and well-being, which has the potential to affect all other aspects of their lives.
Education is definitely an important aspect of life, there is no doubt about that. But it should not be the only focus a young adult has, and certainly should not take over their life. It is also a massive decision to be made by teens, and putting huge expectations on them does not help make that process any easier. Parents do not always help either, even when they genuinely have their child’s best intentions on their minds. The choice to go to college or university is a very stressed one for the minds of young adults, and can often be detrimental even when students are successful at receiving their degree.
That being said, university or college education is not completely dreadful, and is a highly positive experience for many. A chance to move to a new place, meet new faces, try different activities, and make a name for themselves. Students find who they are and learn to live on their own and make their own decisions, both skills that benefit them greatly as they age. A certificate, diploma, or degree can highly benefit a student when looking to enter the workforce as companies and organizations are always on the lookout for qualified employees to fill positions. Although it can be a stressful experience, there are also many universities that are putting new mental health programs in place to aid students during those trying times.
Jillian Ferguson
June 4 2017
High expectations in the modern world diminish the ability to enjoy the insignificant aspects of life.