Toxic achievement culture is a critical societal issue where an individual’s self-worth is entangled to their academic or extracurricular achievements.

This culture is not merely about striving for success; it represents a deep-seated belief that a student’s value is solely dependent on performance, often propelled by external pressures from parents, schools, and society.

This relentless drive to excel is leading many students to prioritise accolades over genuine learning and personal growth, often at the expense of their own wellbeing and interpersonal relationships. Some students are overfilling their schedules with activities aimed to “get ahead”. However, the consequences are proving to be detrimental on students’ mental and physical health resulting in burnout and heightened stress levels. We need to advocate for a more balanced and holistic approach to achievement, emphasising the importance of resilience, wellbeing, and the pursuit of diverse interests. There is nothing wrong with having ambition, but it’s crucial to ensure that this desire doesn’t push our young people into a toxic cycle of achievement and make them feel they must achieve in order to matter.

Toxic achievement can effect a young person’s:

• Mental health and wellbeing
• Physical health
• A loss of passion and burnout
• Strain peer and family relationships