Pressure

Sometimes I feel as though the pressure put on top of teens is overwellming. The expectance level is increasingly high and especially colleges, send us over the edge.
I have always pushed myself hard to do well in school, however once my brother was diagnosed with cancer , I pushed harder. I never realized how quickly life could be snatched from under your feet and after seeing him fall from a college desired football player to a twenty year old man with a nine year old mental capacity, I understood. I feel as though I need to do the best I can do and make everything I can out of my life because he can't. I suppose that I am trying to live both of our lives, to succeed not only for myself, but for my brother.
On top of that, I read college requirements and I wonder how many hours in their day they have? They want us to take AP and Honors classes, volunteer, be involved in sports and clubs, and hold an afterschool job. As I try to reach all of these requirements I find myself tired and worn out.
But, then I remeber that I chose this life. Noone has forced me to excell in school or play two sports or volunteer downtown. I do it because that is what makes me happy and furthers my society as a whole. I enjoy writing, history, psychology, and the arts (hence, those four AP classes) and I love to stay active and helping others gives me more pride and happiness then anything ever has. While, the "slackers" may seem to have it easier, it all comes down to who can face themselves in the mirror every night.