Original article posted on Youth-Nex February 2026. This blog is the first of three is a series of posts focusing on youth mental health and school policies.
By Sania & Mariam, members of TYDE Youth Advisory Board
The Pressure to Perform
POV, or the Teen Point of View
I need that perfect SAT score by Junior year. If I don’t pass the biology test, my grade will drop like crazy. But that’s just the beginning. There are projects piling up faster than I can complete, a history quiz looming the next day that’s worth 25% of my grade, and no time to breathe. How can anyone be expected to keep up? Is this even humanly possible?
That’s just a day-to-day internal battle for high school students today. With rising inflation, job loss and political instability, many young people are expected to become the next financially successful generation in their families. They carry the burden of expectations and crave one phrase from their parents: “You made us proud.” These words echo in their ears, pushing them harder every day like there is no tomorrow.
Emotional Toll of Academic Expectations
Schools across the country are contributing to a decline in students’ mental and physical health through:
- Increased workload,
- Evolving homework formats, and
- A lack of awareness efforts.
These are all issues that must be urgently addressed through thoughtful policy and wellness support.
Homework and formative assessments are now a regular part of the high school curriculum. These tools help students stay informed about their progress and identify areas for improvement. However, the frequency of assignments and assessments can also contribute to increased stress and a sense of pressure, highlighting the need for balance and support to maintain student well-being.
For many teens, these feelings of persistent sadness and psychological stress increase as students move into higher grade levels.
Adults are starting to realize that instead of sleeping, teens often spend a substantial amount of time on screens. From Tik-Tok reels, to completing their homework, everything these days is digital leading to this increase in average screentime.
Teen Sleep Deprivation & Mental Health
One major factor in the toll on students’ mental health is lack of sleep, caused by academic workload. Many experts say the national conversation on the youth mental health crisis has ignored the critical role of sleep. Sleep is essential, especially during adolescence. Data from CDC suggests that only 23% of U.S. teens get the recommended 8 to 10 hours. It is possible that less sleep is contributing to anxiety, chronic absences, poor decision-making and risky behavior.
This data highlights how lack of sleep is not just a side effect of a busy schedule but a major factor contributing to the downfall of mental health in Generation Z. When schools expect students to juggle homework, test prep, and extracurriculars late into the night, it leaves little room for rest.
For teens, the link between academic pressure & poor mental health is strong.
Choosing success over sleep is common among adolescents, as the persistent nagging of incomplete assignments and demands from teachers pile up. This unhealthy cycle of exhaustion, stress, and emotional burnout is killing students mentally and physically.
Gaps in Support
While schools offer valuable programs, there’s a significant gap in addressing academic pressure and then burnout. Many students are overwhelmed by excessive homework, extracurriculars, and pressure to succeed. These stressors affect a large portion of the student body, yet direct support for academic burnout is limited. Schools should prioritize initiatives that help students navigate the emotional toll of academic expectations.
About the Authors
Sania is a high school sophomore from Northern Virginia with a strong passion for student mental health. She leads a mental health focused project in partnership with George Mason University and the University of Virginia to strengthen student well-being and foster supportive school communities. As a member of the Youth Research Council, she builds professional and research skills under the mentorship of researchers from George Mason University, Johns Hopkins University, and Georgetown University. She hopes to apply these research driven skills in the fields of health and medicine to support her community’s well-being while continuing her growth through TYDE at the University of Virginia.
Mariam is a high school sophomore in Northern Virginia and an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma student. She is currently collaborating with researchers in GMU and programs at UVA on projects to spread awareness about student mental health, hoping to find solutions. She’s also a member of George Mason’s Youth Research Council (YRC) in order to expand on her research skills. As a founder and leader of the Muslim Student Association, a leader of her school’s Culture Club, and a member of the Health Research and Awareness club, she focuses on building strong and supportive communities. She hopes to study health, medicine, and business with the goal of creating proper accessible care and make a meaningful change.
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