Stress of Students Today

“Finding out and having to be aware that every single move you make goes towards getting into college: from the time you’re 14 years old you have to start thinking about your whole life…”(Student from OTZ Focus Group)

At OTZ, hearing statements such as the one above, makes us shake our heads and cringe. We have been listening carefully to high school students, and have been compiling stats that clearly illustrate the tremendous stress that so many young people are feeling. We hear over and over again that kids are not enjoying their high school years, and that they live for college. Hearing our young students voice the constant pressures of high school, continually reminds us WHY we created oneTRUEzone, and how our signature program can help alleviate some of this pressure.

We believe that as a society, something has to change. It is criminal that so many kids are experiencing their lives this way. Sadly, many others tell us this type of pressure starts even younger than age 14. Well meaning parents can easily get caught up listening to other parents talk about what they are doing to position their children to compete in the college game. Fearing the intense competition they hear about, many convey this fear of the future to their children as early as middle school, and some even earlier. If you have the opportunity to see the very important documentary, Race to Nowhere, you will know exactly what I mean.


We at OTZ do not believe the inordinate amount of stress so many young people are feeling can be attributed to any one person or institution. We do, however, believe that there are a number of contributing factors from various places, people and sources exacerbating the problem.

As a parent of a stressed, but diligent, high school senior, I have personally witnessed the impact of high school stress. My daughter has done at least 4 hours of homework almost every night since middle school, is taking 5 AP courses, because she is sure it will help her get into top colleges, and has become so burnt out, she seems to have checked out of senior year from sheer exhaustion. From our research at OTZ, we have learned that her experience and feelings are typical, not an anomaly.


oneTRUEzone has designed a solution to alleviate at least part of this problem. If you relate to this blog, please contact us, ask us questions, check out our website, or visit our Facebook page. Let us help you in getting some support. We welcome your comments.