As a J1 student, I feel so pressured to do well since I did do well in OLVL and entered a good JC. However I realised everyone around me just expect more than that and expect me to continue doing well or even better. I am also pressured to take up more roles and build portfolios , I am currently doing two ccas, being an EXCO in one of them and have 3 cca sessions per week with the other two days having Chinese lesson till 5-6pm. I can’t lie I’m super tired and super duper stressed about everything. I have so many competitions so many volunteers and I realised my whole entire June holiday was either working or studying and I had no break and I’m still behind in all my lectures because I prioritised my WA2 over lectures and catching up school work. I did do well for both WA1 and WA2 , with RP with 65 and 62.5 but then I am not sure if I can do it for promos because I am rlly rlly rlly tired and sick of studying and im getting sick both mentally and physically. I constantly experience near-fainting after studying for a long time , and now has a fear of studying for long hours and is super demotivated to study because of this. I’m unable to reach out to my peers because they are just as stressed and some are failing their subjects and , indeed I’m doing perfectly fine in terms of grades and exams would often tell me they wish they were like me but I’m struggling a lot too.. and sometimes I feel like I struggle more than them cause I’m constantly busy and I have no time to rest. I’m rlly tired of JC life but am just halfway thru J1…
Hi there Idk2, thank you for reaching out today!
What you’re carrying right now is genuinely a lot and the fact that your grades look fine on the outside makes it lonelier, because people assume you’re okay when you’re really not. “I wish I were like you” is one of the most isolating things to hear when you’re struggling on the inside.
Two CCAs, an EXCO role, three CCA sessions a week, Chinese lessons, competitions, volunteering, and an entire June Holiday with no real break, that’s not a student life, that’s a schedule that would exhaust an adult. Your body is already telling you something with those near-fainting episodes, and that’s not something to brush aside. Has that been happening often, and have you seen a doctor about it?
I also want to gently reflect something back to you. You said you’re getting sick mentally and physically, you have no time to rest, and you’re only halfway through J1. If nothing changes, the second half is going to be even harder. Doing well in WA1 and WA2 is real, and you should feel good about that, but grades achieved at the cost of your health aren’t sustainable.
Is there anyone? A teacher, a school counsellor, a parent, who knows how stretched you actually are right now? Alternatively, you can always reach out to Mindline at 1771 or WhatsApp at 6669-1771 to speak to someone or just have a listening ear.
Hey @Idk2, it sounds like there is a lot on your plate right now and it is no wonder that things feel so daunting for you. Having been in a similar position as you, I definitely hear your struggles and I just want to take a moment to affirm your strength. Despite all your responsibilities and expectations piling up, you are still continuing to persist with a goal in mind and I hope you are able to keep going 
I hear how busy things have been for you and the fact that you already feel like you are lagging behind in your lectures can be so stressful to manage. How do you feel about taking 1 day, just 1 - where you do no academic tasks? Instead, you can take this time to truly recharge, maybe catch up on sleep, revisit hobbies that you have not had the time for or spend some time with your loved ones. While this is easier said than done, taking a break can do you wonders and help you break this cycle of feeling overwhelmed everyday. It may even help you get back to your academic responsibilities with a more renewed mindset! I wish you all the best, please make time to recharge and rest too! 