The pressure to excel academically was intense from "summary" of The First Generation by Hannah Ritchie
The weight of expectation bore down heavily on their young shoulders. Every grade, every test, every assignment felt like a make-or-break moment. Their parents had sacrificed so much to give them this opportunity, and they couldn't afford to disappoint. It wasn't just about getting good grades—it was about proving their worth, proving that they belonged in this elite institution.
They woke up early and stayed up late, pouring over textbooks and notes, trying to absorb as much information as possible. They attended every extra study session, every tutoring session, every office hour, desperate for any edge they could get. They didn't just want to succeed; they needed to excel, to stand out among their peers, to show everyone that they were capable of greatness.
The pressure was relentless, a constant weight on their minds and hearts. It followed them everywhere they went, whispering in their ears, reminding them of what was at stake. They couldn't afford to slip up, to falter, to show any weakness. Failure was not an option, not when so much was riding on their success.
And so they pushed themselves harder and harder, driving themselves to the brink of exhaustion in pursuit of perfection. They sacrificed their social lives, their hobbies, their mental and physical well-being, all in the name of academic achievement. They couldn't afford to rest, to relax, to take a break. There was always more to learn, more to do, more to prove.
But despite the toll it took on them, they persevered. They fought through the sleepless nights and the anxiety-ridden days, clinging to the hope that their hard work would eventually pay off. They knew that the road ahead would be long and difficult, but they were determined to see it through to the end. They had come too far to give up now.
