Many students disregard  their mental health in order to achieve a letter grade that plays a role in their future. Students are often asked if their grades are good, but never, “Are you good?”. In a recent study from the American College Health Association, about 60% of students felt overwhelming anxiety and 40% felt a severe depression where they could not function. I personally know many people that have eliminated their personal life in order to secure a grade for themselves or parents. Let’s make it clear that I am in no way telling you to fail your classes but your mental health should be just as important as your grades.

Recently, school has changed and caused many people to lose determination and fall into a depression. The recent change to online school eliminates the teacher-to-student bond causing grades to drop and students’ hopes of succeeding to drop as well. The American Psychological Association’s article on mental health states, “The pandemic itself has caused much worry, stress, and grief. These stressors can cause mental health challenges for anyone and can cause acute symptoms to appear for people who may experience preexisting mental health challenges”. I advise everyone to remember that things will go back to normal soon.

Personally, I have had times where I could not function properly due to an upcoming test or a grade that I was not satisfied with. Although caring about your grades is good, I believe that nobody should have to have mental breakdowns that involve school. In the article written by The Mirror, they state that 1 in 5 young people suffer from mental illness. The article also states that students suffer in and out of school not just when it is convenient. I believe that this statement sums up the main point in this blog post perfectly. So please take some time to reflect and ask yourself, How Are You?