From younger me to now, one specific thing has impacted my life…pressure. Pressure can come from school, sports, family, friends, and many other things. Over the years, I have come to realize that there is no way to eliminate this thought. Instead of ignoring it, I had to adapt to it and shape how I think.
At school, pressure primarily comes from keeping good grades and attempting to assimilate. There is pressure to do well on tests, keep up on assignments, and remember valuable lessons for when you get older. When I feel pressure at school, all that I can think about is why I need to succeed. I need to succeed so I can go to college, get a job, and start the next chapter of my life. This pressure can make school feel stressful and overwhelming, especially during big weeks like finals or days packed with tests.
Pressure can also affect my self-image. It alters how I see myself when compared to others. This kind of pressure does not always come from other people; most times, it comes from my perspective on things. I tend to set high standards for myself when it comes to anything. When I fail to accomplish these, I feel disappointed with myself, which has made me realize how hard I can be on myself.
Social pressure has also played a huge role when it comes to fitting in. There is pressure to act a certain way, to make the right choices, and to be the “norm.” Sometimes it can feel like everyone is watching or judging you when you do something out of the ordinary. This pressure can make stepping out of your comfort zone a huge challenge.
Even though pressure can be challenging, it has taught me many useful takeaways that can be used in my day-to-day life. It has helped me learn to withstand others’ thoughts. It has also shown me the importance of taking care of myself and the way my mind controls me. I have learned that making mistakes is okay because everyone is learning. Pressure has not only pushed me to grow as a human, but to take care of my well-being while doing so.
Living with pressure is not always easy, but to move on in life, you have to push through those tough times. This has made me who I am today. Instead of being fearful of hard situations, I use pressure to motivate me to learn new ways. These experiences have helped me become a stronger, more confident, and prepared person.
