Most weekends, I spend playing sports with my friends on one of our local fields. We even go to the Paramus Park just for the heck of it. There’s always something to do. Not that I am not grateful for being in such a great school town, but at times it gets overwhelming when everybody around you is doing something worthy of a social media post. My school has tons of clubs and sports, and I’m part of the student council. That’s cool for me because then I get to talk about something that’s in my head and share ideas. This is actually among the few activities I really get excited about-after school.
I feel it in the stress piling up. Sometimes, it even feels like all the other people around me are great at everything: sports, school-even social media. I try as hard as I can, but sometimes it just seems like that is never good enough. It makes me watch everybody else push ahead and start wondering if I am doing enough. I just feel like all of them know their way, and I just am stuck here, not knowing what to do next. Sometimes, I just wish I could just stop for a while and slow down.
But, despite all of this, I have found comfort in friends. We all go through the same stress because we all try to be perfect and do more, but remind ourselves that life is much more beyond our grades or accomplishments. And we still know how to hang out with friends, playing video games, watching movies, and telling jokes And it is in those moments that I realize life is about something else beyond achievements.
At the end of the day, I’ve started to realize growing up in Bergen County is not about being good at everything or going into the top schools. It’s finding who you are, learning what really matters, and finding balance. I realized that everyone had their own form of success, and it was okay if by the middle of high school you weren’t going to have it all figured out. It’s the people you meet, the experiences you have, and the little moments of happiness between all the pressure. I am ready, but I guess, it will take some time with my friends and family by m
Growing up in Bergen County, New Jersey, is a mix of fun and stress. I’m 14, heading into high school next year, and there’s always something happening here, but it can also feel like a lot of pressure. There are so many opportunities, but sometimes it’s hard to keep up.
Most weekends, I spend playing sports with my friends on one of our local fields. We even go to the Paramus Park just for the heck of it. There’s always something to do. Not that I am not grateful for being in such a great school town, but at times it gets overwhelming when everybody around you is doing something worthy of a social media post. My school has tons of clubs and sports, and I’m part of the student council. That’s cool for me because then I get to talk about something that’s in my head and share ideas. This is actually among the few activities I really get excited about-after school.
It’s only a little lately I’ve started catching the other end of growing up here. It’s a demanding place. People expect a lot. It’s all about getting good grades, acing tests, and doing as many activities as possible. My parents are really focused on me getting good grades so I always feel like I have to be the best. My friends feel the same way. We’re all trying to get perfect grades, study for the SATs, and do everything we can to stand out. There’s just no time to chill and enjoy life anymore.
I feel it in the stress piling up. Sometimes, it even feels like all the other people around me are great at everything: sports, school-even social media. I try as hard as I can, but sometimes it just seems like that is never good enough. It makes me watch everybody else push ahead and start wondering if I am doing enough. I just feel like all of them know their way, and I just am stuck here, not knowing what to do next. Sometimes, I just wish I could just stop for a while and slow down.
But, despite all of this, I have found comfort in friends. We all go through the same stress because we all try to be perfect and do more, but remind ourselves that life is much more beyond our grades or accomplishments. And we still know how to hang out with friends, playing video games, watching movies, and telling jokess. And it is in those moments that I realize life is about something else beyond achievements.
At the end of the day, I’ve started to realize growing up in Bergen County is not about being good at everything or going into the top schools. It’s finding who you are, learning what really matters, and finding balance. I realized that everyone had their own form of success, and it was okay if by the middle of high school you weren’t going to have it all figured out. It’s the people you meet, the experiences you have, and the little moments of happiness between all the pressure. I am ready, but I guess, it will take some time with my friends and family by my side.
