Here’s a lovely image of a student snorkelling, from an environmental field-trip. It’s interesting in that it shows someone in a difficult environment – one that can be rewarding, fun, challenging, but it’s also an environment where some might also feel a bit out of their depth, a bit worried, a bit nervous. Rather like school in fact. Rewarding, fun, challenging? Or partially submerged, in danger of going under?
This question is a really important one for us all, as students and teachers, and certainly an issue that is foremost in our minds whenever we are planning what we do, when we are considering new things, whenever we are dealing with individuals. It’s a difficult topic because it means we need to understand how hundreds of individuals are are feeling; that is, we need to look at not just what you are doing, but also somehow determine what you are feeling.
So as you know, we have been asking all HS students to fill in a questionnaire each week. I’ll tell you what we found for Grade 12 (DP2) in minutes – but I also need to tell you that we have thought long and hard about how to discuss this with you. There is the possibility that whatever we say will make some of you feel much worse; not because of anything surprising or offensive – but because of the ways we interpret information.
It might be, for example, that for people feeling under pressure, talking about it might make it all seem worse. Or that those who were not stressed to start with might start feeling stressed. In other words, before I begin, know that what’s important here is the story we tell ourselves; the narrative that we use to make sense of events; and the terms we use to shape our experience. In other words, what I say here is largely unimportant – because it’s how you interpret it that really matter. Let me give an example in this video:
So here’s the thing. We know that some level of pressure is a good thing. It’s like training in the gym; practicing to speak publicly; training for a race; pretty much training to do anything. If on a scale of 1 – 10, with 1 easy, and 10 hard, it feels like a 1 then you likely aren’t making much progress. Of course, if it feels like a 10 then that’s pretty terrible too – and I am not for a moment minimising that, let’s be clear.
So we’ve asked you, on a scale of 1 – 10, where are you? Before we look at the data, let’s ask, where would you like to be?
You are enrolled here at UWCSEA, a school of some international renown; and in the DP programme – generally regarded as the gold standard of K-12 education. That’s great, right? Many people would be delighted to have this opportunity. You are in the final school year of what has been a 14 year or more schooling experience; and G12 is almost certainly the most challenging year so far. You have some ambitions for the future, and you want to invest in your future, while also enjoying the present.
So here is the trend for all G12:
In a term where we have drama, debate, dance, music, MUN, football, volleyball, field trips, IAs, College applications, are you excited? Or nervous and stressed? What do we make of this? Was it far from what you thought you would want it to be, knowing that both 1 and 10 are undesirable? And that this is, rightly, the most challenging year of your schooling?
My take-away here is that generally, most of us are OK. Most are feeling that there is significant pressure, but perhaps an average of 6 seems a reasonable place to be. Perhaps one would not want to be there forever, but then we have a break coming just around the corner. However, and it is a big however, this is just an average. How many people report higher levels? How many people are really under pressure? That’s an extremely important question for us. And the answer is that in this week, the most difficult week so far, it’s about 7% of the grade that answer 8, 9 or 10.
Now 7% is 7% higher than we would like. And I do not for a moment want anyone to dismiss the 7% as a small number – if you put down 8, 9 or 10, then the feeling is 100% for you – you are the level at which it matters, and we want to help. We do not want to minimise or downplay your experiences. But we do want to give you some tools to think about them
First of all – we can see the number of 8, 9, 10s are changing – so we think people are getting up there, at that challenged levels, and also sometimes dropping out. So if you’re there at 8, 9 or 10 – know it’s not forever! All around the world, throughout human history, teenagers have grown up and felt the pressures of turning into independent adults. A lot of the pressure come from academic work, sure – but many people indicate friendship, family, home, boarding issues, health and medical issues. These are the challenges of growing up. You’ll get there; it’ll be OK. See this as a limited period, that we know will pass.
Secondly, as far as academics go – around the world 150,000 people sit the DP, and literally millions of others sit equally challenging or in a few cases more challenging systems. And it’s OK! This myth that G12 is some killer beast that beats everyone is just that – a myth; it wasn’t there before social media, for example – possibly because people did not have the late night shared laments that can create this myth.
So the idea that G12 is some killer beast that beats everyone is only true if you see it that way. Yes, it’s challenging – appropriately so, and it’s meant to stretch you. Would you want it any other way? Don’t feel bad that it is stretching – that is its purpose; and that’s one reason why it’s so good for you and one reason why you and your parents chose to come here, and it’s what our alum tell us too. Embrace it.
But overall, with an average of 6; most people are OK; so the message to most of us is that we need to look out for the people who need help. Look out for others when you can; help them get through it. Not only is it the right thing to do; it’s also in our interests as we know that others will be looking out for us when we need it.
Another way of saying this is that I think we are a driven community; a community committed to high aspirations; and being the best we can be. But I am not sure we are always a kind community. We are not, generally, unkind, but I think we can do better here for each other. I believe we can look out for each other a bit more; and as most of us are fine, I ask you to look out for those who are not.
There are no easy answers here – if there were we would have done them already. But we’re taking your wellbeing very seriously indeed; in the office we drop whatever we are doing when there’s a serious situation, and – it may surprise you – we really do think about the best things to do for hours and hours on end. We’re on your side here, and we can offer help in all sorts of ways – maybe just a friendly listening ear and reassurance, but also academic support, flexibility with deadlines, speaking with parents,
So let me end not on a negative note, but by reiterating how I started – that how we experience this term, how we react to events – this is in our hands. So don’t just wait for it to end; don’t just see it as something to be endured. See the positives; dance your hearts out at Culturama in Thursday; play for your lives in your sports teams, connect with others in your services; embrace and enjoy it amidst the challenges. Life isn’t about sheltering from the storm or waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance even when it’s raining. Try to see the big picture and make the most of it.
Finally; go easy on yourselves. You are doing great; things will work out well. Keep doing what you’re doing; it’s enough. Don’t beat yourself up for the things you cannot do. And that’s a lesson for life, how matter how successful you are. When he retired, US Supreme Court Justice Marshall was asked what he was most proud of. He said That I did the best I could with what I had. It’s hard to imagine what more one could ask of anyone.
So maybe that should be out motto: Keep doing the best you can with what you have. It’s good enough.
Enjoy the holiday when it comes.
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🙂