By Ayasha Kaur, Class 12 Student, Nanakmatta Public School, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand
In today’s world, students are being judged not by their abilities, dreams, or creativity—but by their marks. The moment board exam results are released, society rushes to place students into categories: “toppers,” “average,” or “failures.” But are these labels fair? Is this what education was meant to become? As a student myself, I feel it’s time we speak openly about the mental and emotional pressure the education system and society place on us.
📚 The Marks Obsession: Judged Before We Even Begin
As soon as board exam results are announced, those in the merit list are treated as if they know everything, while others—who may have passed with decent marks or failed—are judged as less capable or even “unsuccessful.” The entire mindset of our society revolves around one number: marks.
This isn’t just about one student. It’s a mindset we see everywhere: in our families, our neighbors, and even among teachers. Whether a student is happy with their marks or not, no one stops to ask. No one cares whether they’ve enjoyed learning or not. Everyone just wants results—ideally, enough to make them an engineer, doctor, or officer.
What about students who want something different? Who want to follow their passion? Why are they not seen, heard, or encouraged?
💡 The Decline of Creativity in Education
The creativity and excellence of students are slowly being crushed under the burden of marks and rote learning. In many state board exams, cheating is passed off as “help.” As a result, students who haven’t studied all year end up scoring higher than those who worked day and night.
So what happens? The honest students are left disheartened, and society still judges them solely on marks—not their effort, character, or creativity. Is this the kind of system we want to accept?
Why is no one questioning this injustice? Why are voices silent when students are losing faith in the value of their own hard work?
😔 The Emotional Cost: Pressure, Pain, and Pretense
Today’s youth are facing immense emotional and mental pressure. We’re expected to carry the weight of everyone’s expectations on our shoulders. But what about our own lives?
For us, marks aren’t everything. Our dreams matter too. Spending time with friends, laughing, exploring our interests, being happy—these matter. But we are told to ignore them and focus only on becoming “successful” in society’s eyes.
Are we students or machines? Do we have a right to feel, think, and express ourselves? Or are we expected to follow instructions blindly and keep moving—even if it leads some to suicide over just a few marks?
These are not just questions. These are urgent warnings.
🧠 A Real Story That Broke My Heart
Let me share a true story of a close friend of mine—just one among thousands, yet powerful enough to reflect the silent struggle many face.
She’s 16 years old, a Class 12 student from Uttarakhand. The day I spoke to her, she broke into tears before saying anything. She told me how sometimes she feels there’s no one to talk to—her family feels like strangers, and her friends, like judges.
Alone in her room, she keeps asking herself:
Why me?
Why are girls expected to bear everything?
Why do toppers get everything, and average students get ignored?
Despite all the talk about equality, students like her—average, quiet, kind—go unnoticed. They are burdened by growing expectations and cruel taunts if they don’t meet them. And sadly, her story isn’t unique.
📊 The Mental Health Crisis: What the Numbers Say
Behind closed doors, there are thousands of similar stories, and the numbers confirm it:
- According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), more than 13,000 students died by suicide in 2022 alone—an average of 35 every day.
- A NIMHANS study reveals that 23% of school students in India are suffering from mental health problems.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that in 2019, 40 million children and adolescents globally were dealing with mental disorders.
- It also states that 20-25% of youth face mental health and substance abuse challenges.
The reasons?
Academic pressure.
Peer pressure.
Parental expectations.
Societal pressure.
Lack of understanding.
🫂 What Students Truly Need
In this noisy world full of expectations, all we really need is someone who listens.
Not someone who lectures.
Not someone who compares.
But someone who cares.
Children in every household need a safe space. A person who understands. A chance to be themselves without being reduced to a grade.
It’s time we stop tying a student’s worth to their marks and start recognizing their struggles, interests, and dreams.
📝 My Final Thoughts
We say education is the key to success—but for many students, it feels like a lock that won’t open, no matter how hard they try. We’ve become like birds trapped in cages. And even if we have the key, we don’t know how to use it.
Society must reflect. Parents must listen. Teachers must nurture, not pressure.
And most importantly—we must talk about mental health, openly and honestly.
Let this not be just another blog. Let this be a wake-up call.
Written by:
Ayasha Kaur
Class 12 Student
Nanakmatta Public School, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand