Stop Romanticising the "Hustle Culture"

Last month, I watched my best friend collapse from exhaustion after pulling her third all-nighter in a row. She wasn't partying — she was studying, working a part-time job, and maintaining the "perfect" social media presence that has become mandatory for our generation. When she woke up in the hospital, her first words weren't about her health. They were: "Did I miss the deadline?"

We need to talk about hustle culture — the glorification of constant productivity that's destroying young people's mental and physical health. Social media influencers tell us to "rise and grind." But here's what nobody mentions: this isn't success. It's burnout wrapped in inspirational quotes.

The statistics are alarming. According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety and depression among teenagers have increased by 30% in the past decade. Meanwhile, 70% of high school students get insufficient sleep — not because they're lazy, but because they're trying to meet impossible expectations.

Hustle culture is particularly insidious because it frames rest as weakness. Taking a break? You're not committed enough. Sleeping eight hours? Someone more dedicated is getting ahead while you're "wasting time." Research consistently shows that productivity actually decreases after eight hours of work, and that adequate rest improves both creativity and performance. Ironically, hustle culture makes us less successful, not more.

Some argue that hard work is necessary for success, and they're not entirely wrong. However, there's a crucial difference between dedication and self-destruction. Working hard doesn't mean working constantly.

We need to redefine success. Instead of celebrating whoever works the longest hours, we should admire those who work efficiently and maintain their well-being. Set boundaries with your time. Recognise that your worth isn't determined by your productivity. And most importantly: sleep.

My friend is recovering now, but she shouldn't have ended up in a hospital to learn this lesson. It's time we stopped treating exhaustion as a badge of honour and started treating well-being as a priority. The hustle can wait. Your health cannot.

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to Principal Thompson's statement in your October 5th article "New Dress Code Policy Announced," where she claims the stricter dress code will "minimise distractions and promote professionalism." With all due respect, this policy does neither — it simply punishes students, particularly female students, for adults' discomfort.

The new regulations disproportionately target female students — the policy dedicates five paragraphs to girls' clothing and one sentence to boys'. Second, professionalism isn't defined by covering shoulders; it's demonstrated through behaviour, respect, and work quality.

Moreover, the "distraction" argument is deeply problematic. When we tell young women their shoulders distract their peers, we're teaching boys they can't control themselves and teaching girls they're responsible for others' behaviour. This mindset doesn't belong in 2025, and it certainly doesn't belong in education.

Critics might argue that schools need standards and students should simply follow rules. However, good policies serve a clear purpose beyond "because I said so." Students willingly follow reasonable rules — we wear safety goggles in labs and silence phones during tests because the reasoning is sound. We question this dress code because it targets specific groups without legitimate justification.

Rather than policing clothing, schools should focus on actual education. I urge the administration to develop dress code guidelines that apply equally to all students and trust students to dress appropriately. Education should empower young people to make good decisions, not micromanage their appearance.

Sincerely,
Maya Patel
Grade 11 Student · Student Council Representative