In a world of over eight billion people, it seems harder to stand out with each passing year.
Every test, every extracurricular, and every accolade is measured against a constantly expanding benchmark that does not celebrate growth, but a mold of achievements that colleges want in an applicant. I often feel adrift in an endless sea of ambition, reaching for stars that are out of reach because of unrealistic expectations.
The pressure to mold every ounce of passion into something marketable overshadows genuine discovery. I am reminded by my failures that I’m not doing nearly enough.
This struggle is compounded by the weight of the American Dream—something we young Americans associate deeply with, yet barely understand. My parents’ goal for me was simply to do better than they did.
My parents asked of me one simple task: to study well as a means to a better life. Yet on the countless nights spent attempting to be productive or cramming at the last minute, I find myself questioning whose dream I’m chasing. Is it truly mine, or just an inherited aspiration?
As accolades transform into checkboxes on an ever-growing list, the more I achieve, the more it feels like I’m losing myself in the process.
High school is supposed to be a time for self-discovery, yet it has become a crucible where we’re forced to decide our life trajectory in just four years. Amid this intense pressure to stand out to colleges, I find myself comparing my progress to my peers, leading me to an overwhelming sense of mediocrity.
Each test I take and every acknowledgement I earn become fleeting markers: tiny milestones in the vast landscape of my life.
Constant comparison can rob you of joy. Instead of sacrificing our passions for the sake of external validation, we should pursue what truly inspires us, even if it means straying away from what has been successful for students in the past.
The persistent whispers of self-doubt diminish even my most significant achievements, insisting that I’m not enough. This internal burden only deepens my imposter syndrome, making every step forward seem trivial.
I share this reflection not as a guide to overcoming these feelings, but to articulate how constant comparison can rob you of joy. Instead of sacrificing our passions for the sake of external validation, we should pursue what truly inspires us, even if it means straying away from what has been successful for students in the past.
My goal is to reclaim the pleasure of learning for the sake of learning. I hope to challenge a system that values numbers and recognition over passion and self-discovery.
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