SUMMER SCHOOL ZONE: Running on empty: Why so many teens are burning out

For numerous students, junior year has long been considered the most challenging chapter of high school. Between standardized tests, advanced coursework, leadership positions and college applications looming on the horizon, stress is expected. What myriad educators, parents and children are beginning to notice, however, is that exhaustion is no longer waiting until junior year to appear. Instead, it is arriving earlier.

Across high-achieving school districts, learners are reporting feelings of exhaustion, stress and emotional fatigue as early as freshman and sophomore year. What was once considered a temporary period of academic pressure has evolved into a chronic experience that multiple teenagers carry throughout their entire high school career.

The modern high school experience has changed dramatically over the past decade. Competitive university admissions, social media culture and increasing academic expectations have created an environment where kids often feel compelled to build impressive resumes long before they are old enough to drive.

Advanced Placement courses, dual-enrollment programs, leadership positions, volunteer hours, internships, athletic commitments and extracurricular activities are viewed frequently not as opportunities for exploration but rather as necessities for future success. Although these experiences can be valuable, several academics undergo strain to participate in as countless as possible.

According to school counselors and education experts, this pressure can lead to burnout — a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. Symptoms often include chronic fatigue, declining motivation, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, irritability and a loss of enjoyment in activities that once felt meaningful.

What makes teen burnout particularly concerning is it often goes unnoticed. Many kids continue to perform well academically while struggling internally. High grades and packed schedules can mask underlying stress, leading adults to assume children are managing fine when they might actually be overwhelmed.

Social media can intensify these feelings. Platforms filled with acceptance announcements, application posts and carefully curated highlight reels can create the impression that everyone else is succeeding effortlessly. Students might begin comparing their accomplishments, grades or extracurricular involvement to peers, fueling a cycle of self-imposed tension.

“Modern-day social-media platforms that are aimed at high-achieving high school students use extremely flashy and unrealistic videos to promote their own college-counseling services, resulting in an increase in anxiety as well as unrealistic comparisons for young students,” said Samar Kaddoura, a Winter Garden resident and Montverde Academy student.

The culture surrounding achievement also has shifted. Rather than viewing high school as a duration for learning and personal growth, innumerable scholars describe feeling as though every decision must contribute to a future college application. Hobbies become resume builders. Free time becomes productivity time. Rest can feel undeserved.

Experts argue this mindset might be contributing to the rise in student fatigue. While ambition itself is not harmful, constantly operating under the belief that every moment must be productive can leave little room for recovery.

Teachers and counselors emphasize addressing collapse requires more than simply telling students to “stress less.” Instead, schools, families and communities must create environments where balance is encouraged and mental well-being is valued alongside academic success.

Some schools have begun expanding mental-health resources, offering wellness programs and encouraging healthier conversations about achievement. Others are working to challenge the idea that a student’s worth is defined solely by grades, test scores or college acceptances.

For learners, small changes also can make a difference. Setting realistic expectations, prioritizing sleep, maintaining interests outside of academics and allowing time for genuine rest can help reduce the effects of chronic stress.

Ultimately, the growing conversation around teen burnout highlights a larger question: What does success actually mean? For many students, the answer is beginning to evolve. While strong GPAs and future goals remain important, more teenagers are recognizing achievement should not come at the cost of their well-being.

As junior year approaches for another class of pupils, perhaps the goal should not be surviving the pressure but creating a culture where young people no longer feel crushed by it in the first place.