To the Editor:

Suicide among teens is growing rapidly and becoming an even larger issue.

Studies show one in every six students has considered suicide and one in every 12 has attempted it. These horrifying statistics are a result of the constant pressure teenagers feel nowadays.

Teachers stress the importance of good grades and if they're achievable, you will go far in life. This burden can really affect you mentally and lead to physical consequences as well.

Rather than wasting time in "preparation" for these standardized tests, schools could use that time to achieve smarter, well-rounded people and not just good test takers. Standardized tests are a way for the government to label our school.

With the enormous amount of stress students feel, the final grade does not accurately represent our schooling system. Many students commit suicide because they feel inadequate to their peers based on standards they are expected to achieve.

There are different types of students who attend schools but unfortunately, they are all compared by the percentage they receive on the same tests. Someone who scores higher on a test is assumed to be smarter than the pupil who may not have had as high of a grade.

The truth of the matter is that situations in the real world are not solved by a higher grade. Your success in life is not solely based on how you do academically.

When the standard the student is expected to meet is not achieved, they cannot handle the stress or failure they may feel which can lead to harm. Self-harm can be as damaging mentally as it can be physically. The attempted suicide rate for high school students has risen from 6.3 to 7.8 percent in the last three years.

Grace Sullivan

Emmaus High School