«I don't want to be a hairdresser»

Yara, 14, is doing everything she can to make it to grammar school. The secondary school pupil is afraid that her future prospects will dwindle otherwise.

"Sometimes I feel like a dark cloud is hovering over me. Then I can no longer see through it. I try my hardest at school, but it hardly affects my grades. I'm in the second year of secondary school and am preparing for the grammar school entrance exam, like half of the pupils in my class. After sixth grade, all but three students tried, including me. I hope it works this time. Sometimes I doubt myself: am I not clever enough? Would I be better off applying for an apprenticeship? I know that wouldn't be the right thing for me. The Matura opens many doors. Professions that interest me require it: I could imagine becoming a lawyer or a journalist - but not a hairdresser. Everything comes at once at the moment. At school, the focus is on choosing a career, but I would need my energy to prepare for the Gymi exam.

«Sometimes I doubt myself: am I not clever enough?»

I had to fight for my place on the preparatory course offered by the school. The class teacher wanted to prevent me from taking part, saying I wasn't suitable. Now I can go after all because my parents have spoken up in my favour: My motivation is more important to them than my school grades. I moved to Switzerland from the USA when I was at primary school, my parents are engineers and had a job offer here. Learning German was challenging, but the biggest change was the school system. In America, lessons were more vivid, more active. Here the teacher holds a monologue. In the USA, the timetable wasn't the same for everyone, the individual strengths of the students were taken into account. I hardly have any free time. I study in the evenings and at weekends and my homework often lasts until late.

«I often started crying out of nowhere»

A few months ago, everything went over my head, I was tired, lost my motivation and was just irritable. I often started crying out of nowhere. My mother encouraged me to go to the youth counselling centre. Many people are reluctant to seek help; I can only recommend it. My counsellor taught me relaxation exercises, but also strategies to relieve pressure. Writing in a diary helps against stress, as does reading. I now put my mobile phone away more often, sleep better and have more energy for school. And yet I'm always under pressure, which I put on myself. My parents don't scold me when I get bad grades and they never stop motivating me. I'm grateful to them for that."

Read more:

  • An increasing number of twelve-year-olds are complaining of exhaustion and lack of motivation. What are the reasons? A search for clues.
  • When prolonged stress becomes excessive, the soul burns out: Causes, symptoms and how to find a way out of the crisis.