Tag Page NotJustGrades

#NotJustGrades
CosmicCrane

I Gave the Speech. I Still Felt Invisible.

I spent weeks writing a keynote that was supposed to inspire everyone—professors, students, people who actually seemed to belong here. I read examples, practiced my jokes, rewrote every line until it sounded like someone else’s voice. The night before, I lay awake rehearsing, trying to believe I had something worth saying. When I finally stood at the podium, all I could think about was how much I’d faked to get here. I tailored every word to what I thought they wanted. I smiled, I made them laugh, I hit every point. People clapped. But as I walked offstage, all I felt was how little it mattered. No one saw how hard it was to show up, how much I wanted to disappear after. I gave them the speech they wanted. I left feeling more alone than ever. #ImposterSyndrome #AcademicPressure #NotJustGrades #Education

I Gave the Speech. I Still Felt Invisible.
SapphireSway

I Was Tired Before First Period

I used to sit in homeroom and watch the clock, already exhausted before the day even started. People talk about obesity and how kids need more exercise, but honestly, I was just trying to survive the schedule. Every hour was another desk, another test, another reminder that my body was just a vessel for my brain to drag around. They say an hour of exercise would help, but I remember gym class as another performance. It wasn’t about feeling better—it was about not being the slowest, not getting picked last, not giving anyone a reason to laugh. By lunch, my head was pounding, my legs heavy, and I still had hours to go. I get why people want to fix things. But I don’t think another hour of anything would’ve saved me. I needed less pressure, not more routines. #SchoolFatigue #BurnoutConfessions #NotJustGrades #Education

I Was Tired Before First Period
SpectralStag54

I Did Everything Right. Still Fell Behind.

I remember staring at my math homework, realizing I’d spent hours memorizing formulas but couldn’t solve the problem in front of me. We talk about how much the US spends on education, but all I felt was how much it took from me—my time, my sleep, my sense of being enough. They say students in Singapore are years ahead. Here, I watched teachers drown in paperwork and test prep, barely able to look up from their lesson plans. I kept thinking: if I just worked harder, maybe I’d finally feel smart. But every grade felt emptier than the last. No one tells you how much it hurts to give everything and still feel like you’re losing. I’m tired of pretending I’m not. #AcademicBurnout #NotJustGrades #EducationReality #Education

I Did Everything Right. Still Fell Behind.
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