Balancing studies, coping with parental expectations, trying to work out a social life - there's a lot to handle as a student. Some confess to Amber Al Taieb that they have had some extreme thoughts! It's time to sound an alert.
On campuses across the UAE, many students feel the pressure that comes with getting an education - finding a balance between classes, homework, social and family life. Can students cope with all this stress?
Meagan Leckie, 16, thinks not. A sophomore at the Dubai American Academy, Leckie says that the pressures high school students face are excessive.
"It's just a lot to deal with for 10th grade - I mean every teacher loads you up with work, and they always stress how we need time for homework, but we need time for other things as well!"
Schoolmate Jessica Daves, a ninth grader, agrees. "Overall, I don't think people understand that we have a lot to deal with at our age - parents, school work, friends, pressure to succeed - it's just all combined and a lot of kids can't handle it."
Suicide?
According to Daves, many high school students admit to having thoughts about suicide.
"I think it's a phase that so many kids who are my age go through because it just seems like the ?easy' way out - but most of us don't have the guts to do it because we really don't want to harm ourselves."
Rachana Sippy, guidance counsellor at Our Own English School in Dubai, says that high school years are an emotionally critical time for students. "It is a major decision-making time for them... they're thinking about their future, family, friends, expectations - all of this is bound to be stressful, but suicide is most definitely not the answer."
Sippy stresses that suicide, a form of "escapism", is just not the way to go. "A bit of stress is good for everyone... it can motivate, however, too much of it is extremely detrimental to your health - this is precisely why it is crucial for students to know their stress threshold and to learn how to cope with the excess."
Ahmad Maher, guidance counsellor at the American University of Sharjah, agrees. "Stress has become a part of our daily life, and we need to take it seriously, preferably by using a holistic approach - like taking care not only of your body, but also your mind and soul."
Learn to relax
Maher and Sippy encourage students to adopt healthy eating habits and relax with activities such as exercise and music.
Both counsellors emphasise that time management is crucial in determining the amount of stress students face, saying that many students who come for counselling come at the last minute and try to do all their assignments at once.
"This is bound to bring about stress and it will not only de-motivate them to work, but can also severely depress them," says Sippy. "Performing your tasks in increments is the best way to go, because it's far too difficult to take a giant leap without first learning how to walk."
It's embarrassing!
While it is beneficial having school counsellors around, many students including high school freshman Holly Turner of the Dubai American Academy and college freshmen Sara Jasem and Alia Al Rahma of the American University of Sharjah feel that talking to counsellors face-to-face can be extremely unnerving.
"You just don't feel comfortable spilling your personal life to a complete stranger - let alone a person who you're going to run into every day at school - it's just embarrassing," says Sara.
"When I was in high school, the idea of suicide did cross my mind once - as it has with many of my friends... it's a phase we go through while growing up, trying to cope with our lives and as we mature we see that life isn't as difficult as we make it out to be."
A hotline?
Students and counsellors agree that an anonymous hotline would be extremely useful. "Although we do not have an official hotline per se like they do in the US," says Maher, "many students contact me anonymously - which is OK. As long as they are comfortable, that's what matters."
HOW STRESSFUL IS IT BEING A STUDENT IN THE UAE?
"Not that stressful; I think it is less stressful in this country than others."
- Sowmya A.K., computer information sciences, MAHE- Manipal, Dubai
"It's more stressful for final years. It will be harder after graduating; you'll then have real deadlines."
- Adnan Ahmad, finance, MAHE
"It depends on how seriously you take your studies. Students here are not that stressed."
- Payal Bhati, business, MAHE
"A lot! Put that in capital letters! And it depends on how seriously you take your studies."
- Kranston Coelho, business, MAHE
"I think it is fine, I am not that stressed."
- Ashita Ameel, engineering, Bits- Pilani, Dubai-campus
"For those in their final year getting a job and graduating can be stressful."
- Dhanesh Shelvelkar, information technology, MAHE- Manipal, Dubai
"No, it is not that stressful."
- Divya Menon, information technology, MAHE- Manipal, Dubai
"Yes and after graduation it becomes more stressful, especially if you intend to pursue higher degrees."
- Shaheer Saleem, engineering, Bits- Pilani, Dubai-campus
"I think college is fun. It is after graduation that things start becoming stressful."
- Nisha Mathai, business administration, Mahatma Gandhi University, Dubai campus
"A lot of stress because you have a lot of material to cover within a specific time each year."
- Aekta Pala, business administration, MAHE- Manipal, Dubai
- The writer is a student of the American University of Sharjah.
