Risky Business

We're talking about stress, not Tom Cruise (though stress might cause some to re-enact his infamous jumping on the sofa moment). There are two kinds: eustress which motivates you to reach your goals and perform at your best, and distress which causes your body to react negatively and depletes you of energy. In today's world both types are part of our every day lives, though distress seems to be more prevalent. This is especially the case in the documentary film Race to Nowhere which follows over-committed, overworked, exhausted students across the country.

The film's creator, Vicki Abeles, saw the negative consequences of stress and constantly being on-the-go manifest themselves in her own children, as well as in their peers. Her young daughter suffered from stomachaches and headaches that the pediatrician diagnosed as being stress-related. Students interviewed for the documentary speak about Adderall abuse, cheating and suicidal thoughts. Kids as young as Abeles' preteen son and daughter say they know they must do well now in order to get into the best college so they can graduate and get a good job. This means staying up late into the night doing homework after running from school to tutoring to sports practice and forsaking play time. When I was this age my focus was on American Girl dolls and recess, not college. Race to Nowhere (as well as scores of other research and articles) also documents the negatives impacts of this all too normal lifestyle - sleep deprivation, illness, drug use and suicide. As one commentator in the film puts it, children are being robbed of their childhoods.

This pressure to be the smartest, score the highest, and achieve the most isn't just something that students put onto themselves. It also comes from parents - those who want better for their kids than they had and those who want something to brag about at the grocery store. A bright, cheeky female student in the film announces during an assembly that "and...?" is the worst question a parent can ask. Many parents push their children to do more in a resume-building kind of way - "so you're in all honors classes...and...?" - instead of pushing them to follow their passions and explore what being young has to offer.  Educational standards and practices are also at fault. Teachers must "teach to the test" and students are memorizing information to regurgitate on an exam rather then learning critical thinking skills. One representative from a university in California interviewed for the film admits that over half of new students must be remediated before they begin classes freshman year because they haven't retained enough from high school. This is an especially scary and eye opening reality considering that these young people were selected because they were the brightest, highest achievers of the applicant pool.

That said, the stress that our young people is under isn't about blame. It is about awareness.  We must educate ourselves about the pressures that young people are facing, and where they comes from. As a child psychologist says in the film, “when success is defined by high grades, test scores, trophies, we know that we end up with unprepared, disengaged, exhausted and ultimately unhealthy kids.” A future in which these kids become the leaders sounds depressing to me (and perhaps not too much more progressive or open-minded than the world we live in now).

It is our job as adults to challenge society's notions of success. The first step in that uphill battle requires awareness raising which can be done by viewing Race to Nowhere and visiting the film's website. Lucky for Clintonites, this will be easy as the Task Force is bringing the film to you. Please join us in the Gagnon Auditorium on May 17 at 7:00pm to watch the film. After, we'll be having a brief discussion about the ideas it generated with feedback provided by local youth development specialists. Tickets can be purchased in advance online for only $10 or can be bought at the door for $15. If the price tag for viewing the film seems high consider this - any profit from ticket sales will be donated to the Clinton Education Foundation which means its going right back to our young people and educators. We'll also be providing some guidance on the next steps in challenging the definition of success in the 21st century including action steps, book titles, and contact information.

On behalf of the Task Force, I ask that we can count on your support in building a healthier community for our young people. Please say yes by buying your tickets online now!