Declining Productivity among Students
This is a read discussing why students struggle with being productive. Note that these are my opinions and observations, with references to my own struggles. Feel free to share this post along and leave your own opinions.
I became an official student of Grade 9 back in August, which means I am officially a GCSE student who will be appearing for 3 exams at the end of O-1. For context, I have always been on the top of the honour roll (all A*s) but this year has hit many students like a huge, unpredictable truck.
My days have now been spent trying to relearn how to study effectively, each second spent listening to songs or relaxing is met with guilt and anything done for my own happiness such as art or cooking comes along with a cloud of doubt.
Such years where a student moves into a new system, such as Grade 8 to GCSE, GCSE to A Levels and A Levels to University are known as transitional years by my school and are extremely important. The pandemic; however, has made things infinitely harder. Although I applaud all teachers working through this new way of teaching, students now have to self study hours of material through their own research and read up so many new things that really have a bad effect on students.
Knowledge is important in shaping the world, but isn’t important when it comes at the expense of a student’s well being.
Constant bombardment of assignments, late posts of work supposed to be done by students essentially see the roles of teachers and students reversed as it was not long ago where we used to miss submission dates and plead for extensions. Exceedingly high expectations from students through an on going pandemic is wrong in every aspect.
The argument of how students can handle school work if they go out as restrictions are weakened is baseless as assignments for even the most gifted can be highly stressful while casual outings can help one be at ease and unwind.
Many faced immense trauma through this lockdown and I believe schools can accommodate us without providing us with more things to be stressed about. I can assure you, 75% of my curriculum won’t help me later on in life and even if it might, it would probably be because of my hard work that I remember the material, not constant MARKED quizzes and assignments. One does not need to feel pressured into memorizing every sentence because teachers decided to mark every thing to make up a final grade.
This amount of continuous, and shifting work which goes at the speed of light can be successful in putting out the flame among the even most dedicated academics.
Doing work all the time does not guarantee success as it might end up with so many of our desires unfulfilled. I enjoy History but I have hated it this whole term. If you end up hating any of your previously loved subjects, I wish you also get a good professor or teacher. Appreciation of books does not equal appreciation for school.
If you feel burned out, there is a solid reason, the pandemic, and persistence might lead us to great roads. Believe this year as a large, horrifying exam with many obstacles and imagine a better day.
Increase in productivity means increase in over all standard of health. None of us are the best versions of ourselves. That is nothing to be disheartened by, it gives us an opportunity to learn
To keep your sanity, along with all of us who also are whole heartedly struggling, enjoy your favorite show or have a cup of your favorite drink. Cool off your mind. If it makes it any better, I too have 44 missing assignments. (Stuff happens)
Don’t be too harsh on yourselves.
