Are you a school going kid or an adolescent from college? No? Then maybe a student currently enrolled in an undergraduate programme? However, if you are in one of these situations, you must have gone through or are going through academic stress.

If yes, then you are not alone. Almost each and every one of us has experienced this stress. But do you have any idea of where this stress comes from? And where it is taking you? And how can it be useful for you?

Childhood and youth, when you are still in school and college, is the most beautiful chapter of one’s life you make new friendships, meet new people, explore your interests and then decide to go into practical life with your talent, interests and passion. During this academic journey, studies are the most vital part for a student. It paves your path for the future and helps you find your inner passion. This venture can be tough for not only those students who do not like to study but also for those who want to study and get good grades.

“A diamond is a piece of coal that did well under pressure.” — Henry Kissinger

The pressure of getting excellent grades, performing well in tests, securing good percentages and achieving an unprecedented Grade Point Average (GPA) is usually on an honest student. Completing presentations, making projects and submitting assignments on time always makes us tense and tired. This is all the pressure a pupil has to go through on academic grounds.

Another stress that one has to experience during the studies is from parents and family. The expectations of parents are the real tests for everyone; parents hope to see their child rise and shine in every phase of life is permanent all over the globe. A child always has this within the back of their mind that they need to perform well and stand out in the family also, which sometimes make them more stressful than usual. However, this thing does not initiate healthy competition very often. Conversely, all these stresses are not negative every time. These can be extremely effective and helpful to a student with a positive personality.

‘Eustress’ is a term introduced by endocrinologists for good stress, which means stress can be beneficial as well, but the question is how?

A student who strives to learn every day can make the most of these stressful situations. These deadly deadlines of assignments which are making you tired now is teaching time management at an equivalent time, helping you to multitask. Good performances in tests for which you study late nights are preparing you to offer your best everywhere. The presentations that you are hating may be a practice of your future presentations in a multinational company.

In short, stress is preparing and making you strong enough to face your fears, to deal with challenges and giving you an opportunity to get the best out of yourself. In fact, each day of your academic career is a rehearsal of your upcoming endeavours.

As far as higher expectations of parents are concerned, after all the struggles and sacrifices they made for you, they deserve the best from you. If they are strict with your studies or do not allow you to play games for hours, emphasise on getting good marks, they have the right to do so. It is not because they are your parents, but because, at the end of the day, this will benefit you and they just want you to be successful. Your certificates, degrees and success will give them nothing but happiness. Seeing you winning in every ground will make all their efforts and struggles fruitful. Make your parents’ wishes and expectations as your motivation, your strength, not your weakness.

In this fast-moving era if one doesn’t attempt to get ahead by working hard, he is going to be standing nowhere in this competitive world. For example, thousands of students appear in medical and engineering tests each year in our country, but only some of them get admissions not because they are extraordinary, but because they managed and used their academic stress in a constructive manner.

If you are stressed about your studies, give yourself sometime. Go out get some fresh air. Think about it. Schedule your due work. Make plans for your career. Set your goals. Work for it and make your parents proud. Undergoing and overcoming your stresses during this early stage of life are going to be the initial steps of your success. At the end of the day, it is all about handling the pressure well. Keep in mind everyone is working hard to get to the top, but only tough situations and unfavourable conditions bring the best out of yourself.

Published in Dawn, Young World, November 14th, 2020