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Peer Relationships and Social Anxiety in Teens

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Fearful youth may prioritize competence with Peers and close Friendships.

As a secondary educator, I witnessed adolescence as a critical period marked by numerous physical, emotional, and social changes. It’s a time when peer relationships become essential as teenagers strive to fit in, establish their identity, and navigate the complex landscape of social interactions. Recently, I came across such confessions from one of my students whose social interaction with her peer became the source of immense stress and discomfort, leading to social anxiety. This article will explore the complex relationship between peer relationships and social anxiety in teenagers, shedding light on the factors contributing to social anxiety and ways to address and manage it. Continue reading “Peer Relationships and Social Anxiety in Teens” →

Why do Adolescents Sometimes Cave into Peer Pressure?

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Especially In This Plight of Pandemic Dealing with Teenage Peer Pressure Now Becoming a Huge Problem During High School

When I think back to my teenage days, I can probably remember the feeling and the fear that everyone will think I am not cool or do not hang out with the coolest gang of my high school. That fear leads me to do a lot of stupid stuff that I might not do otherwise, from adopting a new lifestyle and clothing sense, whether it suits me or not, to deciding the future career pathway based on my friends’ preferences. It seems when I step into that teenage bubble, my parents’ approval starts mattering less, and friends’ approval starts counting more. Although it sounds weird and so reckless or rebellious to many of you, that was when only I could feel the fear of disapproval from my peers, which eventually led me to cave into peer pressure. Recently, I encountered a situation where a parent shared the routine of her kid and while hearing her take me back to my teen days as I can relate to some of the stuff that parent shared with me. Continue reading “Why do Adolescents Sometimes Cave into Peer Pressure?” →

How Teens Can Overcome the Imposter Syndrome That Haunts Their Success

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Why there are voices in my head that keeps telling me, ‘You’re not going to achieve it on your own’?

Earlier this year, I wrote about why students sometimes do not believe in their abilities and give all the credit to their LUCK? What makes them think as an ‘unworthy person’ and yet their ideas were just a result of copy and paste? This feeling where you consider yourself as an imposter or fraud. It means you somehow managed to bluff your way into the situation and in reality, you are not as talented as you showed. This feeling is called ‘Imposter Syndrome.’ Recently, I have encountered a similar kind of situation where one of my student’s parent asked me about the solution to this problem. She was so much concern about her kid that she believes that her kid’s progress and success is hindering due to this phenomenon.

Also Read | Why Do Students Feel Like an Imposter in Their Lives?

In this article, I will try to discuss some of the measures that help teenagers and parents to overcome that fear. However, it is essential to know why teens caught up with this syndrome in the first place and how you will know that you are struggling with Imposter Syndrome? Imposter Syndrome (IS) happens when we disregard our talents and abilities, especially when we are presented with a fantastic opportunity. For example, when Harry Potter was told that he is a wizard, his immediate reaction was to believe that there was some kind of a mistake, that he couldn’t possibly be magical or unique in any way. Continue reading “How Teens Can Overcome the Imposter Syndrome That Haunts Their Success” →

COVID Break: Tips for Parents to Reduce Homework Frustration

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

COVID Break: Tips for Parents to Reduce Homework Frustration

Due to COVID 19, our lives are now confined to our homes except for security and healthcare workers who are front liners to keep us safe and sound. However, this new era of social distancing also redefines the concept of schooling and open up the limitless space and need for E-Learning. Recently, many students, as well as their parents, shared their frustration and the struggling, they have gone through with the home tasks they’re receiving on a daily basis. Being a teacher and part of that VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) setup, I would completely agree and understand their level of frustration. The schoolwork has now become homework and navigating being a parent, who also may have to teach, is difficult.

Recently, I attended a webinar arranged and hosted by Huntington Learning Centre (a franchise of educational learning centres in the United States offering in-centre and online tutoring services) discussing tips for parents and some basic strategies to cope with the hype of daily school work given by schools these days. Continue reading “COVID Break: Tips for Parents to Reduce Homework Frustration” →

Examophobia: The Exam Stress in Teenagers – Reasons | Remedies

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Examophobia: The Exam Stress in Teenagers – Reasons | Remedies
By Ahmad Amirali

Last week, I was reviewing ‘Parent Reflections’, which I collected from parents during parent’s One-on-Ones, and come across a reflection that caught my attention. According to that parent, her kid’s classroom performance and lesson engagement are quite satisfactory; however, she believes that her kid takes examination and class tests too seriously than anything else in his routine. The term which she used to explain her kid’s stress is ‘Examophobia’, the most common and interesting fear among students since the ‘advent of examinations’. Every year, students and their parents share similar kind of concerns to me about how they plan their time table to manage and prepare for their mid-terms and finals. However, the question which I ask every year and especially after reading this reflection is what triggered in students to developed such exam/test-related stress that sometimes it even becomes a ‘Phobia’ in some teens? Continue reading “Examophobia: The Exam Stress in Teenagers – Reasons | Remedies” →