Pressure and expectation are words often associated when discussing teenagers. Many face intense stress about choosing careers and having their future mapped out before college. I have always felt a weight on my shoulders to have everything figured out and know what college I hope to go to. This pressure is amplified by the constant talk of my peers about their plans.
Conversations with adults are always filled with the same questions; “Where do you want to go to college? What do you want to major in?” Thanksgiving dinner has become a dread as adults are eager to hear about my plans for the future. I say, ‘I am thinking about it.’ However, I have no idea what I want to do, where I want to go, or have any plan whatsoever.
There’s a quiet pressure in watching my peers become sure and confident in their career choices. The constant stress and reminders make deciding what I want my future to be feel like I’m racing a ticking clock instead of enjoying my high school experience. This should not be the expectation. At a young age, individuals are still exploring their interests and developing their skills.
For many, stress is universal. According to an article on LinkedIn written by Brynne Labuzan, a content writer intern, there was a study done by Careerskitchen – a digital platform that helps people find careers. They surveyed a sample of undergraduate students living in Chicago and discovered that 64 percent of respondents felt pressured to pursue a specific career path, with an overwhelming majority citing familial expectations and social pressure as the primary sources. Pressure from parents often comes from a place of wanting their footsteps followed.
According to a research organization joblist.com study, 48 percent of “Generation Z” questioned persons felt that their parents strongly influenced their career path. Consequently, when students attempt to indulge in their parents’ wishes, it can result in them choosing a career they are unhappy with.
Choosing a career at such a young age is not only stressful but also unrealistic. Teenagers strongly lack the experience and self-awareness needed to understand their passions and strengths fully.
While it’s true that the pressure to have everything figured out early can be overwhelming, it’s important to recognize that some level of parental guidance and expectation can be helpful for teenagers. Parents push their children to think about their futures because they want them to succeed and avoid difficult obstacles. Being a teenager is a time of exploration, and some people struggle with that aspect and need a push from their parents or guardians to help them find their way.
Sophomore Tatum Buoy relates to this topic. Buoy has been pressured by her parents and herself to choose a career since she was young.
“One benefit [of pressure] is you can know what you want to do and so you can set your academic career to work towards that goal,” Buoy said.
For some students, this pressure from parents may give them the structure and motivation to succeed. However, while parental guidance is valuable, there is a fine line between offering support and becoming overbearing. In many cases, students are over-pressured by their parents and receive issues later in life, such as low self-esteem, anxiety, depression and difficulty in making their own decisions.
The choice of careers and colleges should be independent. When parents become overly involved, it can be difficult for the student to learn independent life skills and choose the direction their life goes due to the pressure. Teenagers need space and freedom to discover who they want to be, and make mistakes.
To have such high expectations of students and teenagers is unacceptable, and must be changed. The societal expectation for teenagers to have their whole future figured out should no longer exist. Teenagers should never feel like they are behind everyone else.
