Editor's Note: This story was reported by Delilah Reynolds as part of the Spring 2025 Kalamazoo Voices of Youth Program. The program is a collaboration between Southwest Michigan Second Wave and KYD Network in partnership with the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo, funded by the Stryker Johnston Foundation. The Voices of Youth Program is led by Earlene McMichael. The VOY mentor was Maya James.

Burnout isn’t always just stress. It’s exhaustion that just doesn’t go away, no matter how much sleep you get. For some high school students, the demands and pressure of daily life have made this an increasingly common experience.

Such is the case for Jack Reilly, a freshman at Kalamazoo’s Loy Norrix High School. He says he feels the need to put pressure on himself to succeed. 

“For me, I just want to be something. I don't want to be left behind,” Reilly says. 

UnSplash: Jeswin ThomasHe also notices that, in his experience, some students tend to act like they don’t care about grades at all. “I think most people in our generation just act like they don’t care,” Reilly explains. “I feel like not caring is an attitude that a lot of people have so that they’re able to avoid burnout entirely.” 

Unfortunately, this feeling of detachment is not uncommon. In fact, school is the most commonly mentioned source of stress for teens, with over 83% of students in a study done by the American Psychological Association reporting that school is a source of stress. Alongside that, 50% of students report lower grades than they are capable of due to stress. Parents of high-schoolers witness this firsthand.

“The main thing in your life right now is school. You don’t get to decide,” says Al Jones, a parent and mentor at Second Wave Media Southwest.

Academics are only one stressor

However, school itself isn’t the only factor that can contribute to stress in a student’s life. Often, outside pressure can complicate things even further. For some students, life outside the classroom creates challenges that make focusing on academics almost impossible.

UnSplash: Chan Jian XiongValerie Walls, a nontraditional student at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, recalls how she struggled in high school beyond what a typical student would.

“There was a point where I was homeless,” Walls says. “I was driving 45 minutes across town just to go to high school so I could graduate. I couldn’t focus on grades.”

For students like Walls, survival comes before academics. The stress of navigating personal struggles can make it difficult to keep up with school work, let alone thrive. 

“My parents didn’t value education, and I was really just like, ‘I've got to get out of this.’ I’ve got to focus and graduate high school so I can get a job and move out,” she explains. 

Reach out for help

Even though the stress of high school may feel inescapable, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone, and there are ways to combat burnout. An article from the National Library of Medicine explains that taking action such as managing time, interacting with family and friends, and practicing flexible work can all help alleviate the stress of balancing work and school. 

Jones says he has found that high-achieving students tend to have a plan, along with a strong community amongst themselves. 

“You need to have something where you can socialize with somebody else,” Jones says. “If you’re just droning along, doing what's expected, you may do pretty well, but then maybe feel isolated.”

Walls understands this struggle firsthand.

UnSplash: Tony Tran“I think, my senior year, I was just really done. My junior year, most of my friends were seniors, and so, when they all graduated, I didn't really have a network.”

Another study from the APA suggests that students who have close relationships with their teachers can reach higher levels of achievement than those who do not. 

Walls emphasizes the importance of teacher support, especially for students who struggle to reach out for help. 

“I feel way more support in college,” Walls says. “I’m older and ask for help if I need it, whereas in high school I probably did not have that. I’m certain that I didn't ask for help. I think if teachers could be more aware of what’s happening with students and reach out to them and be more supportive, that would help.”

Delilah Reynolds






Delilah Reynolds is a freshman at Loy Norrix High School in Kalamazoo. She enjoys reading and writing in her free time.