Race to Extreme Lack of Sleep

    First of all, I would like to apologize for posting this so late. I've been sick for the past week and I don't think it's an exaggeration when I say that my thinking skills have been like a bowl of mush. Last night I stared at a floral place mat and laughed for 5 minutes. Who knows why. I've been diagnosed by my dad, who is an ER doc, as having a common cold. But I question that diagnosis. Maybe it's not the change of weather or sharing of water bottles with friends that has caused me to be congested and physically exhausted. Maybe it's the stress of being a student, even worse, a Junior at New Trier High School. In class, (or at least what I haven't missed in class), we've been talking about the overwhelming pressure we, as teenagers, are under. Last year, we were under some minor pressures but the switch to this year's challenges makes sophomore year seem like sitting on a cloud being served by fairies. This year, it seems as though the highest priority on all of our lists is COLLEGE. Everything we have learned about taking the "journey, not the destination," has been shot down completely. The message "Screw the journey" is hidden within every application, ACT prep course, and pamphlet that is being shoved down our throats. Just from seeing the trailer of Race to Nowhere, a documentary about the college and grades-related pressure high school students are under, I recognized myself in many of those stressed out, broken down students being interviewed. The disturbing fact that 6 kids at their school had committed suicide in one year didn't even surprise me that much. I'm sure our parents and grandparents went through many of the same stressful experiences as we are now, but I definitely think it has gotten worse as competition has increased between young people worldwide. These days, how can we even compete? And is it worth it to bust our butts so we can brag about going to Princeton?