MRHS Students Express a Common Complaint: Student Burnout

By Anabella V.

Burnout has been an ongoing and debilitating issue for students. Between internal

responsibilities such as homework, projects, essays, chapters to study, and external activities

like sports, clubs, jobs, and family, students cannot seem to keep up with overwhelming

pressure and unattainable expectations that have been set for them.

This seems to be a recurring concern for students, especially those in high school. Complaints

of unrealistic standards are common. From starting off as straight-A students to having a

transcript full of Ds and Fs, along with a lack of motivation for simple tasks, the struggle is

notable. Not only are grades falling, but so are students' mental and physical health. The

question is: why? What could possibly be pushing students to such a severe extreme that they

mentally and physically cannot bring themselves to sit down and finish an assignment? Why is

burnout so common?

Megan W, a sophomore at MRHS, explains her perspective why: "Burnout is common because school treats everyone like it's jail; like we aren't humans, [making] us have 60 million

assignments. It's so difficult to have to balance out so many assignments." Megan continues,

pointing out how extracurricular activities are a major part of student stress: "...getting to school at 7:30 in the morning, then leaving around 6. Having hours of homework, but also wanting to take breaks." The constant busy schedule of students tends to be exhausting and difficult to keep up with. These issues commonly translate to poor mental health.

Alongside student burnout, another ongoing struggle is how students treat and take care of

themselves properly. When faced with a busy schedule and piles of homework, students tend to prioritize their schoolwork and extracurriculars over their mental health, leading to common

unhealthy habits such as lack of proper eating, social isolation, anxiety, and mental or physical

exhaustion.

An article from Planet Detroit written August 18, 2025, goes into depth of the reasons behind

burnout and the numerous ways it affects students and their mental health: “Mental burnout can make students feel anxious and depressed. Students’ confidence can drop, allowing negative thoughts to creep in. This emotional strain not only affects how students see themselves but also how they interact with others.” By juggling countless tasks and responsibilities, exhaustion stems from their regular, every-day, overwhelming life.

MRHS high school suggests counselors to student’s who are suffering from burnout, Brian

Webb being one of them. He provides his insight on how students can support themselves when struggling: “First I would encourage students to identify and believe in their own values and strengths. Give time to themselves away from social media and relationships. Have them be confident in what they believe, make and keep goals for themselves, and then let people in their lives that support these hopes and dreams, if not, they will be more dependent on fleeing trends and fake people wanting their attention as long as it serves them.” How students choose to support themselves is their choice. The best support they should prioritize is their own.

As grades increase, the workload only becomes larger. Upperclassmen commonly face the

most stress and receive the highest expectations from educators, peers, and even social media. Because high schools prioritize preparing juniors and seniors for college, they are treated and given a workload similar to what college students would experience. Most stress and pressure stem from the worry of going to college and getting into a good college. Students have to make sure they are involved with school, maintain good grades, and accumulate volunteer hours, but still separate themselves and be unique from the millions applying for college. Students have a lot on their plate, with an already full stomach.

Another issue that arises from burnout is student literacy rates rapidly declining. Studies show

that the amount of youths between the ages of 11-18 no longer read. “Only 30% of eighth

graders are capable of reading independently at grade level.” The Forbes article continues: “The percentage of 13-year-olds who report reading for fun “almost every day” is only 14%, cut in half in a decade. And in 2022, only 11% of high school seniors said they read at least six books for fun in the past year.” Between burnout and the genuine lack of students finding enjoyment in reading, the culture and love of books is becoming unheard of in the younger generations.

What’s especially concerning is how young students are already beginning to face burnout. A

female student at MRHS shares: “Academic burnout for me began around 7th grade. I started to worry about my grades and the expectations set for me, especially going into 8th grade.” If

students are finding it difficult to maintain grades and mental health in only middle school, are

school’s really taking care of their students the way they should be? Are they providing the

necessary chances to let students breathe and take care of themselves? Are students truly

being seen as humans?

High school students are concerned about how far they are being pushed, and they are at their wit's end. If students cannot push through one week of school and a couple of days of

assignments, there is a true issue at hand.