By the time the final bell rang at the Columbus School, most students weren’t thinking about rest. They were heading straight to tutoring or sports practice, their minds already swirling with the hours of homework waiting for them. In this high-pressure environment, students like Miguel Gomez, a 10th grader, say the stress is piling up — and it’s starting to take a toll on their well-being.

At the Columbus School in Medellín, many students are feeling overwhelmed by academic expectations and the pressure to succeed. With the weight of AP classes, sports, and extracurricular activities, students find it harder to maintain a balance between their mental health and their schoolwork. This story explores how students, counselors, and parents are grappling with academic pressure and what steps can be taken to foster a healthier, more supportive school culture.

As mental health challenges continue to rise among teenagers globally, students at the Columbus School are not immune to the pressure. For many, balancing demanding academics with social expectations, extracurriculars, and college goals can be overwhelming.

“I feel like there’s always something due,” said Miguel Gomez, a 10th-grade student at TCS. “Sometimes I sleep at 1 a.m. because I’m finishing homework after practice.”

Gomez is not alone. He said he sees many classmates struggling silently, afraid to ask for help or appear weak.

“There’s a stigma,” he added. “Like if you say you’re stressed or anxious, people might think you just can’t handle it.”

Miguel’s experience is echoed by school counselor Andrés Rendon, who has seen a rise in students struggling with stress and anxiety over the last year.

“Over the past few years, we’ve seen more students coming in because of stress, anxiety, and burnout,” said Rendon. “Some students feel like their value depends entirely on their grades or performance.”

He believes the competitive environment and the fear of failure can cause students to push themselves too hard, often at the cost of their well-being.

“It’s important to remind them that they’re more than just a GPA,” Rendon said. “We try to offer workshops and check-ins, but sometimes students don’t reach out until they’re really struggling.”

But it’s not just underclassmen feeling the pressure. Senior Samuel Vasquez recalls how the stress reached its peak during his junior year, sharing that pressure increases as students approach the end of high school.

“I felt like junior year was the hardest,” Vasquez said. “I was taking APs, doing SAT prep, and trying to keep up with sports and leadership roles. It felt like I was constantly juggling everything.”

He mentioned that learning how to manage time and set boundaries helped him regain control.

“Eventually, I had to prioritize sleep and say no to things,” he said. “It’s not easy, but you burn out if you don’t.”

Counselor Rendon also emphasized that support from parents and teachers is essential.

“We encourage teachers to be mindful of how much homework they assign, and we ask parents to have open conversations with their kids,” he explained.

Gomez said he appreciates when teachers recognize the pressure students are under.

“Some teachers care and give us extensions if we’re honest about what’s going on,” Gomez said. “That makes a big difference.”

As awareness grows, students and staff hope the school can adopt more mental health-friendly policies, like scheduled mental health days or reduced workloads during high-stress weeks.

“It’s about creating a culture where asking for help is normal,” said Rendon. “That’s how we make real change.”