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When we look up at the sky, stars appear flawless, shining effortlessly. However, to become flawless, they have to go through brutal changes. Inside, they endure burns at millions of degrees, with extreme heat and gravity crushing against one another. While stars look breathtaking on the outside, deep inside, they endure unimaginable pain to earn their perfect look and glow.
Similarly, most of us only notice students' achievements. Behind every success is hard work: late nights, deadlines, and internal stress. These seemingly perfect students don’t shine because they are meant to be, but life forces them to adapt to the heat of society and difficulties.
Wellspring students, athletes, and club members balance a full 8-9 hours school day with 2-3 hours of extracurriculars and 3-5 hours of studying each night. Operating on just 4-5 hours of sleep to maintain a high grade and meet expectations severely weakens their immune system, leading to physical exhaustion and burnout. These hardships are not punishment, but the burn needed to transform potential into a star that truly shines.
When you choose to overcome your failures, you build resilience and character. Every time you make a wrong choice, you learn something new that helps you improve, understand your mistakes, and make better choices. Through this process, students can reflect on their previous mistakes and gain experience to prepare for future obstacles.
On the other hand, students pushing themselves too far without care is a hidden and dangerous problem. Studies by apa.org show that the feeling of failure, family expectations, and anxiety are the main reasons why students try so hard without realizing how it can affect their own health. Driven by the fear of disappointing others and failing, students unintentionally weaken their immune system, causing extreme fatigue, anxiety, and brain fog.
A clear sign of this is that middle and high school students often express stress through emotional changes, such as anxiety, isolation, defiance, or inappropriate laughter. While these coping mechanisms are unique to each person, the fact that they are so widespread is highly concerning.
Students who put in work receive the best results and reach their true potential. While students should keep pushing forward and give their best in whatever they do, they should not ruin their bodies or force themselves to exhaustion. Success matters, but health is matters more.
The National Health Service of the United Kingdom recommends an active lifestyle along with a stress-free environment for students, along with organizing workload, maintaining healthy daily habits, practicing relaxation techniques, and seeking support from trusted friends, family, or teachers. By pushing through challenges and resting when needed, students can learn and shine like a star.
