What’s on the minds of Bromfield students? The Press asks them to weigh in on a variety of topics.

This month: The high school student lives in an age where, for better or for worse, “plans for the future” dominate the present, and college financial aid is the greatest present Santa can leave under the Christmas tree. It seems that, for high school students, there is a new challenge to face around every corner. The question is this: what is the greatest challenge facing high school students today?

Katy Park, grade 11:

[The greatest problem is] the amount of homework and the amount of studying high school students have to do. It puts so much pressure on kids and stresses them out­—especially juniors and seniors when they are trying to prepare for college. The amount of work just adds another thing to worry about for all these kids that are trying to get good grades and be on sports teams. I think having like an hour of homework every night [per class is a lot], and most kids take [around] six classes. [It] leaves no time for other things like sleep. I go to sleep at 2 sometimes.

Isaac Cohen, grade 11:

I think stress overall does not help us learn and it makes us not like school. Making school seem like it’s bad is not good for learning at all. Stressing out over grades—that takes all of the fun out of learning. You aren’t learning for learning’s sake… Coming into high school, we have a preconceived notion that school isn’t fun. I think that’s the problem. And only a few teachers do something to try and overcome that.

Mina Rae Beckman, grade 12:

[I think the greatest problem is] probably time management and figuring out how to deal with the heavy workload and sports. It’s also hard for younger kids who don’t have cars to drive themselves places. I think that’s the biggest problem. As a senior, it is having to deal with all the college apps and essays while also having a life.

Brett Keating, grade 11:

I think the greatest problem is probably the competition of students with their GPAs and their extra curricular [activities], and trying to do everything at once to impress colleges. I have to get good grades and I have to do a ton of stuff, and I like to do a ton of stuff, but it’s hard. I don’t have time to do things outside of school, just fun stuff.

Tyler von Loesecke, grade 11:

[The problem is] getting into college. It’s all parents ask about. I feel like it’s the biggest thing my parents have pushed me for and any time I talk to an adult they ask me what schools I’m looking at. I get frustrated sometimes because I get asked over and over again and it gets annoying. But for me, it’s not a problem, I don’t really care that much but parents freak out about it.

Ali Waterhouse, grade 11:

I guess stress [is the greatest problem]. Just the workload. I think that stress is kind of a cycle because when you get stressed out about stuff it puts you in the worst mood and then you get stressed again. And lack of sleep, that ties in too.