The Cost of Success: What High Schoolers and Teachers Sacrifice

High school is often portrayed as a time of self-discovery, social growth, and academic achievement. But behind the scenes, students and teachers alike make countless sacrifices to stay on top of their responsibilities. 

By: Liah Rodriguez 

Sacrifices are made everyday by everyone around us. That student you sit with in class, the students you teach, the teachers themselves, even the athletes you play with. Sacrifices can sometimes be unseen, are you making any sacrifices right now? Whether it’s giving up free time, sleep, or even mental health, the pressure to succeed is a shared experience among students, teachers, and staff.

One of the biggest sacrifices students make is time. Between classes, homework, extra-curriculars, and jobs, free time is often a luxury. Morgan Kane, ‘25, knows this struggle all too well.

“You sacrifice a lot of time. There are things I wanted to do in high school that I didn’t because other things took up so much of my time,” Kane said.

Kane participates in orchestra and mock trial, meaning any free time is spent catching up on homework. Even though it can feel overwhelming, Kane sees the value in it.

“I think it’s worth it. It improved my public speaking ability and writing, which helped me in my classes.”

While some students accept the trade-off, others struggle with the balance. Malachi Perkins, ‘26, admitted that the adjustment wasn’t easy.

“Yeah, a few sacrifices—sometimes I don’t get homework in on time,” Perkins said. “At first, it was difficult to balance in my freshman year, but it got better.”

For seniors, the workload can feel never-ending. Diego Martinez, ’25, has found ways to make it more manageable.

“The only sacrifice I make is free time,” Martinez said. “Depends on the kind of student you are—if you’re doing your work, it’s not bad.”

Gabriel Gomez, ‘25, said it’s less about the difficulty of schoolwork and more about the weight of responsibility.

“I’m losing work time,” Gomez said. “I don’t think it’s hard physically—just everyone putting work on you. The hardest part is getting all my schoolwork done while still having fun at the end.”

Seniors make sacrifices daily. Whether it’s their goals and dreams in and outside of high school, or the difficult balance between high school and college. A website called “CollegeData” which offers informational support about college and all you need to know, has an article titled, “Senior-year Stress: Here’s What Students Say and Do About It” that goes over the different stressful events seniors face such as applying to college, paying for college, and the life balance, as well as some tips to overcome that as a senior.

Students aren’t the only ones making sacrifices. Teachers dedicate hours outside of school to lesson planning, grading, and making sure their students succeed. Special education teacher Keenan Naylor spoke about the extra effort required in his role.

“It’s a lot of planning, especially as a special education teacher, to make sure the kids feel included. So you sacrifice your time, but it’s worth it,” Naylor said.

For many teachers, the job doesn’t stop when the final bell rings. Mr. Timothy Jackson, a Biology and Physical Earth Science teacher at Redwood, explained how teaching affects his time at home.

“I have to sacrifice the time I spend with my family in the evening,” Mr. Jackson said. “I feel like I’m constantly planning lessons for the next day, so I give up some time with my kids.”

Mr. Jackson didn’t always plan to be a teacher, but he found meaning in the profession.

“They say if you can’t go out and do something, teach it. Go out and inspire the next generation to do that stuff. That’s what I like doing.”

With packed schedules, sleep is often the first thing to go. Mayce Gutierrez, ‘27, described the toll that high school has taken on her daily life.

“Yes, my sleep schedule, my time, and my mental health,” Gutierrez said. “It’s almost like a full-time job. I don’t have a work life after school.”

Gurmun Bains, ‘27, another student, echoed the same struggle.

“My sleep schedule is all over the place because of the amount of work I have,” Bains said. “I don’t have any hobbies—school is my only hobby.”

This lack of personal time can lead to burnout, something that affects students nationwide. The sacrifices made daily whether they are seen as big or small still matter!

The Bigger Picture: Is It Worth It?

As students and teachers continue to sacrifice their personal time, rest, and social lives, the question remains: Is it all worth it? For some, the answer is yes—these sacrifices prepare them for college, improve their skills, and help them grow. For others, the pressure feels overwhelming, making them question whether the system asks for too much.

The high school experience is different for everyone, but one thing remains true: success always comes at a cost. The challenge is figuring out how much you’re willing to give up.

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