Why Do Kids Suddenly Struggle In School?
There are a plethora of reasons why kids may suddenly begin to struggle in school. The teenage brain is not yet fully developed, and will not reach full development until age twenty-five, at the earliest. A teenager relies heavily on the amygdala (the area of the brain associated with impulses, emotions, aggression, instinctive behavior, and plays a role in sexual activity and libido) when reacting to certain stimuli whereas an adult relies on the prefrontal cortex (the area of the brain that is involved in planning, self-control, and decision making) when reacting to the same stimuli. Hence, teenagers instinctively react to stimuli emotionally and often without any consideration of foresight or rational thought. Adolescence is a time in a young person’s life that is filled with intense pressures, immense physiological growth, surging hormones, and a newfound need for autonomy. Teenagers are designed to test limits, push boundaries, and engage in behaviors that help them discover their true selves and begin to cultivate a moral compass.
Often the reason young people struggle in school can be attributed to a confluence of contributing factors that may occur both in and/ or outside of the school setting. Some common examples of teenage stress triggers that may negatively impact a young person’s academic performance, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, could include but are not limited to the following:
- Excessive schoolwork (e.g., homework, projects, exams, etc.)
- Extracurricular commitments
- Problems with school friends and/ or peers
- Low self-esteem
- Separation or divorce of parents
- Body changes
- Death of a loved one
- Being overscheduled
- Family financial problems
- Switching school
- Learning disabilities
The combination of triggers that can cause a young person to struggle in school will be unique to each teenager. School is intended to provide students with a safe environment to learn. It is a place that enables young people to explore their own identity, discover how they wish to interact with the world around them, and learn a slew of difficult lessons. Although school is meant to challenge young people, it is also a place to nurture and support the growth and development process of our youth. It is impossible for a young person to move through his or her adolescence without having to face an array of teenage struggles, some of which may present as a decline in one’s academic performance.
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