— by Garima Satpuri
In a country where we proudly celebrate freedom, there is one freedom many students silently surrender– the freedom to fail. From school corridors to college campuses, one message follows us constantly: do well, score high, be better than the rest. Somewhere between expectations and entrance exams, childhood slowly turns into competition, and competition turns into comparison. By the time students reach college, they are no longer just learners; they become performers– performers of grades, performers of success, performers of perfection. Yet, behind this performance lies a quiet crisis that rarely finds space in report cards.
Today, many students are not studying because they are curious or inspired. They are studying because they are afraid. Afraid of disappointing their parents. Afraid of being compared to others. Afraid of not being “good enough.” Most parents dream of a secure future for their children, and their intentions are rooted in love. However, when love slowly transforms into constant expectation, it begins to feel like pressure. Conversations at home often revolve around marks, ranks, and percentages. Over time, numbers stop being just numbers; they become measures of self-worth. A student begins to believe that their value depends entirely on performance.
This constant academic pressure carries consequences that are often invisible. Students sacrifice sleep to meet expectations, surviving on a few hours of rest before another demanding day begins. Anxiety becomes normal, stress becomes routine, and exhaustion becomes a lifestyle. Many quietly struggle with overthinking, panic before exams, and feelings of inadequacy. Some develop unhealthy eating habits due to stress, while others give up physical activity entirely, because “there is no time.” Social interactions shrink, hobbies disappear, and self-doubt grows louder. On the outside, everything appears fine because the grades are good. But internally, many are fighting battles no one sees.
The race itself never truly ends. First come board exams, then competitive entrance tests, followed by college grades, placements, and eventually promotions. There is always another milestone to achieve. But rarely do we pause to ask: at what cost? When success becomes the only acceptable outcome, even small failures feel catastrophic. Students begin to internalise a dangerous belief that if they do not achieve highly, they are nothing. This mindset does not build resilience; it builds fear.
In countless conversations with young people, one simple desire emerges again and again: “I just want peace of mind.” Not luxury. Not fame. Not even extraordinary success. Just peace. The ability to sleep without overthinking. The freedom to take a break without guilt. The courage to choose a path based on passion rather than pressure. Education was meant to nurture curiosity and confidence, yet for many, it has become a source of anxiety and self-doubt.
Parents, too, are part of this system shaped by competition and uncertainty. Their fear of an unforgiving world often translates into heightened expectations. But there is a subtle difference between encouragement and pressure. Encouragement says, “I am proud of your effort.” Pressure says, “Why not more?” Children need guidance, but they also need emotional safety. They need to know that one low score does not reduce their worth, and one setback does not define their future.
For students, it is important to remember that you are more than your GPA, more than your rank, and more than a placement package. Your creativity, empathy, leadership, and resilience cannot be measured in percentages. Success matters, but mental health matters more. A high score without peace is hollow. Rest is not laziness. Failure is not weakness. Choosing a path aligned with your well-being is not rebellion; it is courage.
If freedom truly means anything, it must include the freedom to be imperfect. The freedom to grow at your own pace. The freedom to explore without constant comparison. The freedom to protect your mental health. Perhaps the most important right students need today is not written in textbooks but felt within the right to breathe without fear.
Because in the race for marks, if we lose our peace, what have we really won?
— Edited by Eshani Bhattacharjee | Design by Alphin Tom
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