Dear Grads...

Dear Graduating Class of 2019,

I hope that you will not perceive this letter to be any sort of “exposing” video in word form. It is more of a call to attention to some things we have all been noticing but seem not to say. Let’s be honest: Grade Twelve is stressful. Between parental expectations, our own high standards, 300 word “essays” that need to capture our essence perfectly while making us seem like the best person on the face of the planet, plus regular coursework, failure seems imminent. Every day in the halls, I hear students ranting to their friends about how overworked they are or slipping into a comatose state from sheer exhaustion. I have been this student many times, and I know we all have seen them collapsed in these hallowed halls. But recently, I was listening to a conversation between a few of my peers, and I had somewhat of an epiphany. For privacy's sake, I will refer to these individuals as “Person A”, “Person B”, and “Person C”.

So, Person A sits down and is looking rather depleted.

Person B asks, “Person A, what’s wrong?”

Person A sighs, “I’m honestly so stressed right now. I have this *insert stressful social science course here* paper due in two days and I just have no idea what I’m doing.”

Person B can relate, and adds: “I have a *insert a complicated science course here* lab and a paper due. I didn’t sleep last night.”

Person C hears this and chimes in, “That sucks, I have a lab, two papers, a sight singing test, and my grandma just died. Also, I haven’t slept in a week.”

I’m sure you can see the problem. Person A was trying to express they were stressed about how much work they had to do, but they were immediately met with other people explaining how much more work they had in comparison, and now Person A probably feels like they have no right to complain.

This is a phenomenon my friend Ellie Fletcher coined as “The Stress Olympics.” This is when students compare who has slept the least, has the most assignments, and is generally the most stressed out. These conversations help no one involved. Person A feels inadequate for complaining; so does Person B; and Person C has their sympathy, but none of them feels comforted or motivated.

We have all been involved in these olympics, whether competing or observing, but I’m here to say that we have to stop. I’m not here to stop any occasional complaining or ranting - I know how therapeutic it can be - but I want us to realize when we are competing for competition’s sake. I want this class, and I think we all do, to be one that supports each other. Instead of trying to upstage your friend, remember that we all have our stresses. We as grads are going through a unique experience that only our peers can come close to understanding, so stop competing with one another. I want us to be better listeners. I understand that maybe you did get less sleep than your friend but is it helping them, or you, for that matter, to say that? Instead of starting your sentence with, “That sucks but I…” maybe try, “That sucks, I know how hard it is not to get any sleep.”

Support your friends and they will support you, too. Soon, we can all unite in our protest against the stress Olympics, and we will be a more united and compassionate grade for it.

Yours Sincerely,

Abby Diduck