A screening of the Try Harder! documentary followed by a community conversation
On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, CATCH hosted a program entitled, ‘Beyond the Pressure: Youth, Success & Well-Being’. Attendees screened the documentary Try Harder!, which focuses on seniors at Lowell High School, a top-ranked public high school in San Franscisco, as they navigate the demands of the college application process and the pressure to achieve in high school academics, athletics and activities. Following the film, a discussion was led by Dr. Lisa Novak.
Students Feel Pressure from Multiple Sources
- Students feel the pressure to achieve and get in to top colleges from a variety of places, including their parents, ethnic and cultural norms, and other students.
- The competitive nature of high-achieving communities leads many students to believe that the only path to success is to earn high grades and honors in the “4 A’s” — Academics, Athletics, Arts and Activities.
- Some parents voiced concern that this pressure to excel may prepare students for the college classroom, but not for actual life.
- Many students’ identities become enmeshed in their grades and activities, rather than what they enjoy doing or excel at outside of the classroom, leading to a dissonance between who they are and what they are capable of achieving.
- The pressures of high school are preventing many students from enjoying this stage of their lives, and inhibiting them from exploring new activities or interests because they might not “look good on their resume.”
- In many cases, there is a noticeable absence of fun, joy, friendships and experience of being “regular” teenagers who try new things, fail, and make mistakes.
Parenting Perspectives Vary
- Many parents didn’t attend top colleges and universities themselves, but went on to have successful careers. Given their high-achieving communities and current cultural norms, they are struggling to communicate messages around ‘you are more than your grades’ and ‘success in life isn’t just about academic achievement’. Their focus is on helping their children find the right fit for college over getting into a top-name school.
- Other parents feel that their children have more opportunities available to them than they had as children, and as a result, want them to achieve more and “do better” than they did. Those expectations become internalized by students and they feel pressured to do everything they can to get in to top colleges and universities.
- For parents that came to the U.S. so that their children could have a better life than they had, there is also a great deal of pressure to achieve and excel. The message students hear is, “We’ve sacrificed to give you a better life, so you need to take advantage of the opportunities provided to you.”
- Families in lower socio-economic brackets find it challenging to provide for all of the costs associated with academics (AP testing fees, etc.), extra-curricular activities and after-school programs. Often, older children need to spend time at home caring for younger siblings while the parents work, and as a result, aren’t able to participate in programs, leading to different pressures about getting into and paying for college.
Helping Students Find Their Passions
- High schools offer a variety of classes and programs to help students explore different areas and interests. Many students don’t feel that they have room in their schedules to take these classes if they want to stay on the “AP” track and miss out on opportunities to try new things.
- The State of Illinois is pushing for high schools to introduce students to college and career pathways, including the trades. By requiring a certain number of hours of experiences to graduate, students will have the opportunity to try different areas of interest before they decide on whether to attend college, junior college, a trade school or other paths.
Defining Success
- Many students define success by money, and think that getting into the ‘right’ school, with the ‘right’ program will lead to financial success. (And, if they don’t get into those schools and programs, think that they have ‘failed’.)
- Parents are encouraged to have conversations with their children about what success means to them and how they might be able to achieve that. Questions to discuss may include:
- What does success look like for you?
- What does it feel like, and what do you value?
- What other things besides money do you value?
For more discussion questions, click here.
