"I hate school, and I'm not going back!"
Have you ever had that thought? Lots of kids do. Usually this feeling doesn't last
long. But what happens if you feel this way too much? School is a fact of life, and
getting an education can help you build the kind of future life you want.
So let's talk about school and what to do when you don't like it.
Signs of School Stress
When you worry about school, it can affect your body. A kid who feels stressed
about school might have headaches
or stomachaches. You might feel "butterflies" or like you have to throw up.
Having trouble sleeping is
also a sign of stress. And if you're not getting enough sleep, you probably feel grouchy
and tired during the day. Feeling tired can make your school day seem even worse.
If you're stressed out, you might have a hard time making decisions. In the morning,
you can't decide what to eat, what to wear, or what to pack for lunch. You don't want
to go to school, so you put off getting your stuff together. And now you're not prepared
to go to school, and you've just missed the bus — again! Staying home may seem
like a good choice, but it just makes it harder to go to school the next day.
Why Do Some Kids Dislike School?
If you don't like school, the first step is finding out why. You might not like
school because a bully is bothering
you, or because a kid you don't like wants to hang around with you. Or maybe you don't
get along with your teacher.
You might feel different or worry that you don't have enough friends.
Sometimes it's a problem with your classes and schoolwork. Maybe the work is too
easy and you get bored. Or maybe the work is too hard, or you don't feel as smart
as the other kids. Reading or math may be difficult for you, but you're expected to
do a lot of it. You may be getting farther and farther behind, and it may seem like
you'll never catch up. Maybe you're dealing with worries, stress, or problems that
make it hard to concentrate on schoolwork.
When you stop to think about why you don't like school, you can start taking steps
to make things better.