Un-relenting Achievement

In every developed country, enormous pressure is put on teenagers to perform academically. During the last, or the two last years of school, students do more work then they probably ever will. During a time that should be left to discovery of self, and the beginning of a long history of firsts, kids are spending their time succuming to ridiculous pressure to perform.

Why is it that teenagers themselves, their teachers, parents and peers expect so much of them? Striving for knowledge and perfection in retention is one thing, working ourselves to our limits and working beyond them to a point of hopelessness is another.

Why is it culturally acceptable to be consigned to a life of solitary study? Do teenagers today need any less time with their friends, time with their family or time in peace than their parents and grandparents did?

But the biggest question of all is, where does it end? Where does the unrelentless drive to beat our peers stop? Is it a question of personal satisfaction with one's self, or is it in fact a question of the unspoken expectations for each generation to be better than the last?