Obsession can be expressed in many different ways. It could involve changing yourself to be similar to someone else or avoiding your social life to focus on school. Or it can mean dedicating your life to a sport, but it can also be represented by being overly concerned about people’s opinion of you. Regardless of the seemingly infinite obsessions someone may have, they all have their individual consequences.
High school can be an extremely stressful time because of the variety of challenges presented to students. Most students want to fit in, and an attempt to assimilate can lead to an obsession. Others only focus on their sports or activities. Oftentimes, students may not be aware of their obsessions and the possible consequences unit it’s too late.
Junior Alayna Knazur has been focusing on good grades for as long as she can remember, often feeling consumed by the pressure.
“I study a lot and put a lot of time into school,” Knazur said. “Sometimes I don’t have enough time for myself because of how dedicated I am.”
School can feel overwhelming at times because of all the different social, extracurricular and academic pressures. Many students feel the need to be perfect, even when it is unachievable. Prioritizing one responsibility over every other activity can negatively affect other aspects of life. Discovering a healthy balance is essential to prevent people from falling down rabbit holes. Grades can feel especially challenging in high school when there are other stressors as well. Controlling your doubts can be hard, but there are strategies to stay level-headed.
“I look at my grades to remind myself that I’m okay,” Knazur said. “I think to myself that school doesn’t matter as much as I may think.”
Self-affirmation can be an extremely useful tool when trying to not overwork yourself. However, it can be harder for students to find balance when they have multiple extracurriculars. Each one has its individual challenges that not everyone may know how to handle.
Senior Jacob Whittington has been a part of both the competitive and school marching bands for the past four years. Although band is a huge part of his life, he has also learned how to maintain a healthy balance between band and his personal life.
“I try to make sure that I get an equal amount done,” Whittington said. “I do my best to stay on top of things while also making time for practicing music.”
Knazur and Whittington have both developed the ability to avoid falling down rabbit holes, but balancing their activities and personal lives has not always been easy for them. Last year, Whittington was auditioning for a competitive summer marching band. It was on the professional level, and it intimidated him. He quickly fell into the dilemma of worrying about auditions and whether or not he would qualify for the group.
“I kind of just started going crazy,” Whittington said. “I had a lot of stuff on my plate…I had rehearsals every weekend and was getting ready for a different audition. I was super stressed all the time, and it just wasn’t great.”
For Whittington, when something goes wrong, an obstacle can bring additional stressors to his life. To prevent himself from falling into this negative mindset, he has found ways to have a healthy passion for band. He makes sure to have all of his homework done and eliminate any possible stressors so he is able to focus on what is important to him.
Although obsessions can have consequences, there is still a reason that people are invested in their passions. Different lessons can be acquired through the development of different skills, making it important to find a healthy balance.
Sophomore Lilly Crawford has been playing softball and basketball since she was five. Throughout her life, she has learned many lessons from her sports. Crawford’s dedication to athletics allows her to apply the same skills she has acquired from softball and basketball to anything else she may do.
“It shows me that I can work through challenges in school and life,” Crawford said. “It helps me realize that I can do hard things.”
Crawford plays sports in both school and club seasons, and she even made the varsity softball team her first year of high school. She has accomplished difficult things that her dedication and passion towards sports have given her the confidence to do. Overcoming these obstacles has helped her in social and school life; she feels she can overcome any challenge.
Although Crawford has learned to find a healthy balance, it took years of hard work to do so. She has been juggling school, friendships and year-round sports for years; it can be hard to not feel overwhelmed. Much like any other stressors, Crawford eventually found a way to balance different aspects of her life.
Two years ago, Crawford played at nationals for softball. She was not performing to her standards, and nationals presented an extremely stressful event for her to go through.
“The feeling that I wasn’t the best really drained my mental battery,” Crawford said. “It taught me a lesson that I need to not think about the negative things in my life and think about the good things.”
Her experiences with stressful situations and not feeling confident have prepared her for any challenge in life. She has learned how to reassure herself, as well as not feel overwhelmed by one life factor or another. Even though her sports can be stressful, Crawford has learned valuable lessons and different ways to maintain a healthy amount of passion.
Every day, guidance counselors at the school see what students are going through and watch the outcome of various situations. They have a lot of perspective when it comes to what students experience, as they have witnessed many unique people in so many different situations.
Cynthia Violett is a counselor for students with the last names Se-Z in each grade level. She helps motivate students to pass their classes and guides them when they choose their courses, and she tries to be there for everyone. Violett has watched from beginning to end the consequences of obsession, which has shaped her perspective.
“I see a lot of kids who are hyperfixated, especially with grades,” Violett said. “They think they have to do everything right, and it’s important to learn to say no to things.”
An inability to say “no” can cause people to feel consumed by their responsibilities, which can create a negative headspace. Taking on responsibility after responsibility can begin to feel like a never-ending cycle of tasks. Taking a break can help people realize that nothing is the end of the world.
“Your mental health is important, and you can say no to things,” Violett said. “If you fall down this rabbit hole of being hyperfixated, you won’t really enjoy things.”
Focusing too intensely on one thing can lead people to disregard other responsibilities. Everyone deals with obstacles differently, but no matter the circumstances, there are usually consequences. Having an unhealthy balance can lead to overexertion and burnout; prioritizing well-being is the key to succeeding.
Having an overwhelming amount of passion for any one thing can feel like drowning. Acknowledging potential obsessions is imperative to anyone’s overall health.
There are many different lessons that a passion can teach someone, but there can be negative consequences of having an obsession with something. Keeping a stable mentality and trying to find a healthy balance can whelp everyone with their different interests.
