Teenagers in Marin lack passions and interests. Many are focused on what they think they’re supposed to do, such as achieving good grades, joining clubs and creating a strong career path, rather than participating in activities they genuinely enjoy. This is due to the overwhelming academic pressure that teenagers face. According to Common Sense Media, “53 percent of teens feel pressure to be exceptional and impressive through their achievements (e.g., honors classes, good grades, jobs).” In a high-achieving environment like Marin County, these negative feelings often percolate more.
Kids in our generation, including ourselves, struggle to balance school, friends, family, sports and hobbies. When students feel overwhelmed by this balancing act, hobbies and activities meant to bring joy tend to be the first things to go from their lives. According to Sports Leadership, “70 percent of kids quit organized sports by age 13.”
According to the January Bark survey, 63 percent of students feel that they have lost interest in the activities they once felt joy in due to academic or social pressure. Additionally, according to Common Sense Media, “More than one quarter (27 percent) of teens are struggling with burnout.” Along with school pressure, kids are dealing with heavy burnout that stems from overwork.
As kids, we all dream very big about what we want our future to look like. We use so much of our imagination as kids, but that can get lost as we grow up, as we lose that “anything is possible” feeling. What can we do to get this feeling back? This question is answered by an article by psychologists Richard Ruan and Edward Deci, about the Self-Determination Theory. This theory states that,“External rewards hurt something called intrinsic motivation–the internal desire to perform a task for personal satisfaction.” In simple terms, solely rewarding yourself for academic accomplishments can cause you to lose the enjoyment of having a hobby or doing an activity just for fun. According to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey of 920 U.S. teens ages 13–17, having a job or career they enjoy would be “extremely” or “very” important to them as adults.
Although many Marin teens give in to this academic pressure for success, many are also able to balance their outside-of-school commitments with academics. Many high school students do, in fact, have hobbies and passions outside of school, but they keep them more underground to focus on homework, good grades, and, when it comes down to it, college.
While some people have other passions outside of school, for some, school is their passion. They love to learn and want to spend all their time doing so.
Do you want to look back in 30 years and regret not living life to the fullest and participating in the hobbies you enjoy? Students should permit themselves to step away from school and do something that brings a smile to their face. Hobbies aren’t a misuse of their time, they’re an investment in happiness, mental wellbeing and self-identity. When finding a hobby that you enjoy, it can fulfill you more than reading a textbook can. Having a passion won’t slow you down; it will keep you moving.
