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Educator, Psychology Enthusiast, Academic Consultant, E-Content Developer, and Curriculum Developer.

The weight of expectation: navigating youth performance anxiety. The rising incidence of performance anxiety among young learners is a serious concern, particularly as it correlates with an alarming increase in suicides within this generation. This issue is multifaceted, influenced by academic pressures, societal expectations, and personal struggles, especially in a middle-class family.  Performance anxiety manifests as intense fear or nervousness in situations where the individual feels that they are being evaluated and assessed for their performance. Symptoms can include stomach ache, excessive sweating, overthinking, and a blank mind. One can even feel numb during the examination. Young learners face overwhelming expectations from their parents, teachers, family members, and themselves. This can reinforce a vicious cycle where the fear of failure diminishes performance and a person develops a negative self-concept of himself. Negative beliefs around their potential and themselves get strengthened over time making it difficult to change as they become a part of our personality. Research shows that students in prestigious institutions experience significant academic-related stress. This pressure is twofold: first, they feel stress about gaining admission to a prestigious institution, and then they face pressure to maintain their performance once they are enrolled. We have numerous examples where students have had second thoughts about their life in prestigious institutions because of this surmounting pressure and alleged mistreatment by peers or other members of the institution. The root of this thought and loss lies in our education system, where some institutions and professions are considered superior to others. An education system that gives more importance to science subjects over social science subjects. A stringent education system based on the performance and categorization of the child. We are based in an education system where the definition of success is limited and a culture of cutthroat competition is nurtured. Our paramount focus is success by hook or crook. Hence the mammoth task that lies in front of us in reshaping what we call success and the values that we are providing to our students in the name of education. Educators, parents, and policymakers need to work together in reimagining an education system that nurtures well-rounded individuals rather than merely high achievers. Follow- https://lnkd.in/d6bQzJHc #Performance #Anxiety #Education #MentalHealth Dr Prakasha G SOmari ChazuaShahzadi ParveenAnsuman Dasaman vermaPreeti DevganPreeti SharmaRaj GauravSaurabh NandaAiswarya Unnikrishnan

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Very impressive article Yashmita, you have said true. The definition of success is limited not only to parents students and teachers but limited to the curriculum developer/designer i.e. our curriculum to a large extent does not provide a room for learner to be free and positive minded to focus on his/her future dream, instead emphasize on final results. That's why we see if the failed students are not counselled based on their failure may reach such unexpected decision. In this scenario community including parents play an important role towards reshaping their dreams and expectation invested on their children's. On the other hand, we need curriculum which is innovative, creative and collaborative enough not only for students success but community at large

Aiswarya Unnikrishnan

Academic Trainer I Soft Skills Trainer I Corporate Trainer I Educator

1mo

Thanks for tagging me Yashmita Singh. In India, intense academic expectations from family, societal norms, and fierce competition place significant pressure on young people, impacting their mental health and fueling performance anxiety. From an early age, many students are made to believe that their worth is tied to grades and prestigious careers, sidelining personal growth and emotional well-being. This narrow focus often leaves young achievers battling stress, self-doubt, and burnout. A more balanced approach in education is needed, one that values mental health, diverse talents, and holistic growth, enabling youth to thrive as both successful and resilient individuals.

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