"School Pressure Is Killing Us, But Nobody Talks About It”

Title: “School Pressure Is Killing Us, But Nobody Talks About It” School is supposed to be a place of learning, growth, and preparation for the future. But for many Nigerian students today, it feels more like a battlefield. A place where you fight daily for grades, respect, survival — and sometimes, your sanity. Let’s be honest — school pressure is real, and it’s silently crushing so many young people. You wake up early. You sit in overcrowded lecture halls. You deal with strict lecturers who don’t care if you understand — they just want you to cram and pass. You write test after test, exam after exam. You study under pressure, often on an empty stomach, all while worrying about money, your future, your mental health. And somehow, they expect you to still smile, behave, and succeed. --- “Read your books. Pass your exams.” That’s all we hear. But no one asks: Are you mentally okay? Do you sleep well at night? Can you afford your textbooks? Are you even passionate about what you’re studying? They say school is hard work, and it is. But what they don’t say is how unfair and draining it can be. Some of us are dealing with: Constant fear of failure Academic pressure from parents Financial struggles Depression and anxiety Toxic competition And sometimes, harassment from lecturers You start to feel like a failure just because you're tired. Like you're lazy just because your brain is overloaded. Like you're wasting your life if you're not on first class — even when you're doing your best to survive. --- And then there’s the comparison… You go online and see people your age already running businesses, getting rich, traveling, and “making it.”Meanwhile, you’re still stuck in school, struggling to understand one boring course that may not even help your future. Nobody tells you how that makes your chest heavy — how you start questioning yourself:“Am I wasting my time here?”“Will school even guarantee me a better life?”“Why does it feel like I’m just existing, not living?” --- We’re expected to carry it all — silently. There’s no space to break down. No room to cry out loud. Because if you do, they’ll say: “You’re too emotional.” “This is what we all went through.” “You’re lucky to even be in school.” So you keep it in. You pretend you’re fine.But deep down, you’re tired, frustrated, and lowkey depressed. --- Dear society, school is stressing us in ways you don’t see. We’re not just reading books — we’re fighting poverty, expectations, fear, and pressure all at once. We don’t just want to pass — we want to feel free, happy, and heard. Please stop making it seem like we’re just being dramatic.Some of us are really struggling — mentally, emotionally, and financially. --- What needs to change? Let’s normalize talking about student mental health. Let’s make space for conversations around academic burnout. Schools should care more about students than just their results. Parents should support, not pressure. And most importantly, let’s be kind to ourselves. Passing isn’t everything. GPA is not identity. Your worth is not measured by your grade. --- To every student out there… If you're tired, it’s okay.If you're scared, it’s valid.If you feel overwhelmed, you’re not alone. You’re doing your best — and that matters. Take it one day at a time. Breathe. Rest. Cry if you need to. But please, don’t give up on yourself. School is hard, but you are not weak. You are strong for even showing up every day.

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