The life of a student is often seen as the “perfect life”. There is not much complexity to their life. After all, what they have to do is get up, get dressed, have their breakfast made by their mom and then rush to school without worrying about anything else. After their school, they return home, having everything prepared for them by their parents. What a perfect life, isn’t it? Nothing to worry about or to stress about! Everything they need is fulfilled by their parents. But in reality, is this what a student actually feels? Well, of course not! It’s only the point of view of everyone excluding the student himself who actually goes through the so- called “perfect life”? Let’s look more into it.

Nobody ever has a perfect life. Everybody has something that he wishes was not the way it is.

Stan Lee

The very notion of a “Perfect Life” is flawed. Nobody ever on the surface of earth has had a “perfect life”. Each and every person has been through or is going through some or the other kind of problem in their life. As in the case of students, the major issue faced by them is society’s expectations from them. As easy as it seems to have a student life, in reality it is nothing but a burden in today’s world. People, especially in many cases the parents, have high expectations from their children. They want their child to become doctor, engineer, administrative officials, etc., as per their expectations without paying any interest to what the child actually wants to do. Sometimes they force their child to take unnecessary tuitions and courses at an early age just to compete with others and to fulfill their expectations regardless of the child’s wish. This behavior, as normal and beneficial may seem, isn’t that encouraging and promising. Such behavior creates a stressful environment for the child who is subject to constant nagging and scolding if he/she defies the parents wish.

The stress of exams is an additional issue that overcrowds the mind of a student. The need to complete the syllabus in time without leaving behind any portion, the need to complete the assignments in time, the need to be the best student in front of the teacher’s eyes and above all the need to fulfill the dreams of their parents are some of the never-ending thoughts which constantly consume the mind of a student. A student has to go through many hurdles in order to satisfy the wants of the society. Career options revolving around any kind of art form, fashion designing, management courses, etc., are still seen to be inferior to that of doctor and engineer. If both parents are doctors, then the child has to become a doctor as per the social tradition cum orthodox. It is not new that children are at risk to many mental health issues due to this reason. Mental health deterioration in children is often neglected in the society which in turn, results in some severe damage to the emotional capability of a child. Failure in exams is still one of the top reasons behind suicide and depression in India. Apart from all this, a child subject to all this kind of stress, when does not get proper aid and time from the parents, becomes prey to ADHD and in some cases, turns to alcohol and drugs which results in nothing but self-destruction. Mental health of a student is as important as the physical health in order to gain prosperity. The increasing levels of competition and stress, the constant nagging by the society to win in this so-called “rat race” takes a toll on the mental health of a student. Comparison with other students, no matter how constructively be suggested, results in self-doubt within the students.

In conclusion, no matter how easy the life of a student may seem, in reality it is not a cakewalk! The burden of fulfilling the wishes of the parents and the society results in nothing more than unnecessary stress, confusion and self-doubt. Thus, the parents need to be aware of the unwanted pressure they are putting on their child’s shoulder and rather be more attentive and invested in their child’s wishes and dreams.

Children are not thing to be molded, but people to be unfolded.

-Jess Lair