Recently, one of my friends decided she wanted to quit a sport she's been doing for a while, simply beacuse she didn't really enjoy it anymore. However, her decision making process wasn't always just based on what she felt like doing. Her parents were really pressuring her to stay in the sport because it would look good on her college applications, while quitting junior year wouldn't look so good. She had a difficult desicion to make, but ended up listening to what she wanted to do and quit. Unfortunately, her parents still don't approve of her decision, simply because of the way her college apps will look.
There is so much pressure on kids to do and participate in certain things for college. I can't tell you how many times I've heard a phrase that had something to do with "this will look good on your college apps," or "this won't look good on your college apps." Doesn't what the actual kid wants count for something as well? What is a "good" college app anyway? Is its purpose showing off to colleges the things you truly are are passionate about, or is it just an incentive to pile on as many activites as you possibly can, whether you enjoy them or not, just to show what a "well rounded" person you are? I think this is a very relevant problem for teens, espcially our age in this particular grade. So much pressure is put on kids to make themselves look the best for colleges, that they forget sometimes what they want to do and what will really make them happy. To me, the main purpose of high school isn't just to impress colleges. The more important thing is to discover your interests, and have fun along the way. That will take some trial and error, and everything you try won't end up being for you. So what if you decide a certain activity isn't for you? More parents should understand that ultimately, their child's happiness during their high school years counts for more than whether a college is impressed with an app or not. I know it can be hard for people to agree with that, especially in a school like this where success in all forms is extremely stressed. However, parents should always be supportive of their kids in these situations, and not make them feel bad with threats of how they will look to colleges.
My question is, what is it worth to participate in something you don't want to do, just for the sake of looking like someone your not to colleges? Of course academics and involvement in extra-curriculars are extremely important, but if there's something you are starting to feel obliged to do, whether to impresss you parents, friends, or a college, its a waste of your time. We should be focusing on enjoying our last two years on high school, instead of living a life based on what colleges will approve of.
Olivia, I completely agree with you. A similar thing happened to me last year. I had played soccer my whole life, but for a few years I had been starting to get tired of it. It took me a long time, maybe too long, to finally quit last year. Many people were pressuring me to stay in the sport, but once I finally got out of it, I was relieved. I regret not quitting earlier because I realize now that I was wasting my time doing something only to make others happy. I definetely do not think that you should participate in something that you don't want to. College is built up so much in people's minds, but it really shouldn't be. Students should do things only because they want to. Otherwise, when they look back at their high school career, they will have a lot of regrets. We, as highschoolers, need to stop thinking about college SO often because in the long run, it's not the only thing that's important.
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ReplyDeleteThroughout my high school career, I have also been pressured to not quit and stick with things so it won't reflect on my college résumé. And it appears to have worn off on me. I feel obligated not to quit any activity and with that being said, I am constantly looking for other things to build on my résumé. High school has come with high stress and lots of pressure for me, and sometimes I need a break. I agree with you, Olivia, that high school is a period of growth and learning, and often it gets lost with all the tension. Hopefully next year will give me a chance to sit back and relax, and enjoy the rest of my high school career.
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