Dear Gus,

My parents have been pressuring me lately about my grades. I know they want the best for me, but they won’t leave me alone. What should I do?

Sincerely,
It’smylife

Dear It’smylife,

Thank you so much for reaching out to me with your question.  It can feel so overwhelming when parents put pressure on you about your grades.  It’s hard enough to be a student facing your own pressures, and when parents add to that stress it can feel impossible to handle.  Have you tried talking to your parents about how their comments have been affecting you? Sometimes parents don’t understand that their constant pressure is really harmful to your success.  If it’s hard to talk to them, maybe writing it all out in a letter could be a better way to go about it. Also, opening up to a friend or other trusted adult or counselor about this could be a great way to feel more supported.

Sincerely,
Gus

Featured Image: Gus at his usual post, in the hallway in front of Ms. Lancaster’s office.  Photographer: Rosemary Pastron ’16