School is meant to be a place for growth, engagement, and opportunity. So why does it feel like a constant competition, and why, as students, are we judged for simply admitting that it is difficult? 

  For many teens today, school seems more daunting than ever. The rise of Advanced Placement (AP) and concurrent enrollment (CE) classes, along with academic pressure, has made student life more intense. Just passing a class is not sufficient; students are expected to excel at this level. Once a place of education and friendship has evolved into a cycle of never-ending stress with no clear end. 

  Not everyone fits the high-pressure lifestyle, and that should be okay. 

  Some students like myself have chosen not to take AP classes. It is not because they are lazy or lack ambition, but because of their mental health. AP testing has seemed scary for me because testing is not my strength. An entire year’s worth of work depends on one final exam, and that is overwhelming. On top of that, I do not plan to attend a traditional four-year college. Traditionally, school has never felt like the right path for me. These choices are my own for my well-being and lifestyle. They are valid. But despite this, I am often met with criticism rather than understanding for my choices.  

  Judgment can come in subtle ways, but it is nonetheless hurtful. 

  Earlier this year, I was struggling with math. With a D in the class, I knew this did not reflect my potential, but it impacted me a lot. I was already under pressure from my family and from within to improve this grade. This way was weighing heavily on me, so I turned to a friend for support. Her response when I told her how I was feeling caught me off guard: “It’s at least an AP Class, right?”

  It wasn’t. 

  In that moment, my struggle was diminished. Instead of reassurance, I felt embarrassed. In this class, I was really struggling. It seemed my struggles did not “count” because the class was not advanced. This seemingly simple question had an underlying message: some challenges are more valid than others. 

  That mindset is completely flawed. 

  Academic struggles are not a one size fits all tee-shirt. What comes easy to a student may be challenging for another. Intelligence should not be measured by AP classes or GPA. After reflecting on the conversation with my friend, I realized something important. I could not allow someone else to define my academic worth. Humans constantly think differently, learn differently, and have different struggles, and that does not make one individual inferior to the other.

  Unfortunately, this comparison has become more common in teenage culture. 

  The old stereotype of the nerd has dissolved. In its place, a more complex comparison culture. Students compete over who’s taking the most AP classes, whose grades are the highest, or who is socially successful. The need to stand out leads to self-boasting. One’s accomplishments are exaggerated, and struggles are masked.

  According to Mission Prep Health, “Watching your teenager exhaust themselves trying to win approval from their peers can be heartbreaking. They may constantly brag about their accomplishments and exaggerate stories to seem more interesting, going to extreme lengths to get the validation that never quite seems to satisfy.”

  The constant need for validation comes at a cost. 

  When students are constantly trying to prove themselves to others, schools turn from supportive environments into exhausting performance environments. The need to impress peers is just as overwhelming as academic expectations. Instead of focusing on learning, teens are focused on image. 

  But it doesn’t have to be this way. 

  Teenagers need to shift to a culture full of acceptance rather than comparison. The ability to recognize that everyone has a different path, different struggles, strengths, and goals is essential to flip the switch. Not every student needs to take AP classes, attend a four-year college, and, most of all, find school easy. None of these should be used to minimize a person’s value or effort. 

  Why don’t we accept that school is hard? The last thing students need to do is make it harder for one another.