Mental health is something most students don’t talk about much, but it’s something many of us deal with. I’ve felt the stress of school, exams, and expectations. It’s not just about studying — it’s about handling the pressure from so many directions at once. Sometimes it feels like we’re always being told to do more, score more, and be better, without anyone asking how we feel.

One of the biggest reasons for stress is pressure from parents. I have a friend who wants to take up art, but his parents want him to go into science because “everyone in the family does it.” Another friend is already being told to prepare for NEET, even though she’s not interested in medicine. I know our parents want the best for us, but sometimes they forget to ask what we want. This pressure makes us feel like we’re not allowed to make our own choices.

Even though I’m not giving board exams yet, I see the pressure my seniors in class 10 and 12 are under. Some of them look really tired and stressed. Our teachers often remind us that boards are “very serious,” and that starts affecting even younger classes like ours. It feels like we’re in a race that started before we were even ready. The pressure keeps building as we move from class to class.

Career pressure starts very early now. Students in classes 8 and 9 are already talking about JEE, NEET, and even CAT. I’ve seen classmates join coaching classes on top of school, and they barely have any time left in the day. Some of us go to school, then tuition, then come home to more homework. We’re not even in classes 11 or 12 yet, but we already feel the weight of “what will you become in the future?”

Life for our generation is not the same as it was for our parents. My parents say they studied during the day and then went out to play. For us, it’s school in the morning, tuition after that, followed by homework, projects, workshops, and sometimes even online sessions. Our schedules are packed, and even weekends are full of work. Sometimes we just want a break, but that feels like wasting time.

Exams like JEE and NEET are treated like the only path to success. I’ve read stories on Brut about students in Kota who face mental pressure from long study hours and high expectations. Some even feel completely alone while preparing. That kind of pressure is scary, especially when you think that could be you in just a few years. It’s not just about marks — it’s about how the whole system makes you feel like you’re never doing enough.

Even during regular school weeks, our time is filled with assignments, practical files, projects, via-voces, exemplar questions, and class tests. If we ever take a break or relax for a bit, we feel guilty. It’s like resting is wrong. And the truth is, we’re not being lazy — we’re just tired. Our brains and bodies also need time to breathe.

At the end of the day, we’re not saying we don’t want to study. We just want to be understood. We want our parents and teachers to support us, not pressure us. Mental health is real, and it affects many of us even if we don’t show it. We’re still growing and learning, and we need time and space to do that properly.
The honest truth, delivered unfiltered.