Before middle school, I didn’t care about grades. There wasn’t a consequence if I didn’t turn in homework. The worst-case scenario was getting my home called. It wasn’t until sixth grade when my crew leader Christina broke down how we would be graded and what would happen if we failed that I decided to pick myself up. Since then until now (I’m a junior), my average has always been exemplary. I believe that anyone can accomplish anything if they work hard enough. I am proud of the work I do. When I drop the ball, I make the necessary changes. There is a comfort that comes with doing well in school. However, there are downsides. I am always trying my best to succeed. What happens when I need a break? What if I reach my limit? Often, I don’t stop even when I need to. This leads to burnout.
Burnout is emotional, physical, and/or mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed and unable to meet constant demands. Once COVID hit, we were all sent home. Virtual school took some getting used to. For me, the adjustment wasn’t very tough. My mother made a schedule for me that was rigorous and allowed me to produce quality work. I missed my peers and teachers, but being alone helped me focus more.
Once school ended, all the emotions hit me at once. I was saddened by the number of people infected by the virus, I was apprehensive about going outside. I was tired. I found myself in depression. It was hard to get out of bed every day. I was met with a crushing weight on my chest the minute I exited my room.
When school re-opened in October, I didn’t feel ready. I wanted to quit. I wanted to delete Google Classroom from my phone and tune out completely. It was hard to find motivation. Being a student isn’t easy now. Teachers need to be more understanding. As much as we want to get our mastery levels up, we need a break sometimes.
Burnout is never easy to deal with. We need the adults in ourlives to listen and make changes to support us. We also need our classmates to help. We are all tired, but we need to look out for each other. Reach out and do your part when it is expected of you. School can still be a great experience virtually if everyone collaborates. This is a call-to-action. It isn’t easy being a student and it isn’t easy navigating in the midst of a global pandemic. We need to be a support system for one another. Let’s make this time a little easier. That way, we can make burnout a thing of the past.
