As teenagers, we face pressures daily from all angles. Teenagers have so many things to balance and are expected to excel in all of them. This isn’t a post to complain about how hard teenagers have it; but simply to give understanding and help relieve some of those pressures.
We face pressures from school to get good grades and turn in everything on time. Especially when each teacher assigns a pile of homework for each class. If we don’t get good grades then we are deemed failures or we are not trying hard enough, even if we are up till 3 am studying.
Teens also face pressures from work; many teens have jobs as well and have to balance their schedule around their school as well. Working hard and trying to make money as well as keeping their bosses happy.
Teens Try To Balance Everything
There is also a lot of pressure at home as well. Parents push for good grades, getting a job, doing chores, sports, and spending time with family. I’ve seen parents who get upset with when their kids get bad grades and put so much stress on them that they are afraid to tell them anything. They also expect teens to get all of their chores done and be at every family dinner or game night.
We also feel pressure for extracurricular activities; parents and teacher also push students to get involved with sports, band, yearbook, and other activities. They have to make time to go to games or dances; or exceed in mathlete competitions or debate.
On top of it all we still have to have fun and spend time with friends; deep down we are still teens and want to go out with friends. We want to enjoy life and hang out with our friend group; but sometimes that has to get put on the back burner to make time for everything else. Other times parents get on kids for spending too much time with their friends; when really, they are probably trying to de-stress.
He Walks With Us In All Things
If you are a teen who feels these pressures or strains in your life; just know you are not alone many other people feel the same stress and you don’t have to face it alone. A verse I like to remember is Philippians 4:6 which says this “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God”. God doesn’t make us face this world alone; he walks with us and guides us through the tough times.
If you are a parent, teacher, or friend of any teens in your life, just keep these things and know that they are usually stressed out. Even when they are grumpy and having a bad day just know they have a lot on their plate and just need understanding and love.
“So now faith, hope, and love, abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
-Gracie
