Written by: Leyla A.
Edited by: Sofia V.
As the second half of the academic year starts, the dark cloud of student burnout looms over many. Most students are thrown into the deep end of academics and some have already fallen victim to said cloud, but what exactly causes burnout at ISM? And how exactly are Bearcats dealing with it?
When asked about their opinions on the causes of burnout, all interviewees mentioned stress from academics. It is not a secret that students at ISM, especially those enrolled in the International Baccalaureate (IB), face much academic pressure. Ms. Lee, one of the upperclassmen counselors, pointed out how every grade, from ninth to twelfth, experiences a change that requires major adjustment.
For underclassmen, it is adjusting to the new schedule, different classes, and an increased amount of overall coursework compared to MS. Students are now expected to dedicate more time to school through homework and revision. Additionally, students have to start thinking about their future more, particularly the sophomores who are already expected to have a rough idea of their preferred career path.
On the other hand, many Juniors need to adjust to the IB program’s new course framework. They may also struggle with navigating relationships with new counselors while needing to engage in other school activities, particularly university-related activities such as Bearcat and Beyond sessions and university visits.
Deren, a junior, shared how the newness of the IB program and the pressure of the next two years being the “most important years of high school” affected her. “This year, especially after the first results came in [for] the first semester of IB, I was a little bit stressed, because we all know that this year is our most important year, so it was a period of how to organize my exams and I felt very distressed”, she said. Considering this, many more juniors might struggle with burnout, as the semesters ahead promise to be even more stressful, with more assessments and coursework coming up.
Seniors, even those who have never experienced burnout before, find themselves in the midst of it at this time. Mildred, a senior taking the full IB, explains that “a handful of my teachers understand that many of us are exhausted and unmotivated to study.” That exhaustion affects the way lessons are structured, but Mildred says that there is still content that has yet to be covered. Ms. Lee also points out that this group of students has the greatest number of factors contributing to the presence of burnout, ranging from the looming pressure of college decisions to IB exams right around the corner. Although some classes are completely done with their coursework, others still have material to get through, which just contributes to the existing pressure.
While ISM is trying to lessen the stress on students, there is only so much that can be done to prevent a student from burning out. Mr. Birchenall explains that there is a delicate balance that is being maintained between the number of assessments and the pressure they present. “The problem is that if we reduce the number of assessments that students take, it means that each assessment counts for more [of the semester], making every assessment [have even higher] stakes”, he points out. Mr. Birchenall also mentions how the varied amounts of homework from each course also contribute to academic stress. Although there is a homework policy in place that teachers are to follow, there are other factors contributing to the ability to follow the policy, such as differences in course vigor, time allocated to the class, and the teachers’ teaching style.
It’s not a secret that the issue of burnout is prevalent in ISM and will continue to exist, but there are efforts to solve the issue from its root. For instance, there’s an abundance of available support from counselors, who are always willing to help and provide solutions to students’ struggles, and teachers, who, at times, even modify their lesson plans to ease the academic pressure off of their students.
It’s important that students accept the helping hand that counselors and teachers may extend by visiting counselors at times of need and approaching teachers about upcoming material to help ease the academic pressure. Although it might feel as if burnout is just part of the high school experience, there are ways to ease the pressure and prevent it from taking root in one’s mind. Students who are mindful of the pressures and seek help when needed will have an easier time getting through their remaining semester(s) in high school.
