4-H Delivers

Impact of high-stakes performance culture on youth

The Issue:
The project addressed issues of teen social and emotional wellbeing as well as drug and alcohol abuse.  The Placer Youth Commission (YC) identified an increase of pressure in their peers to be perfect in all areas of their life. Commissioners found the issue particularly relevant because they could all relate to the negative effects of academic pressure and stress. The YC found that it was a complicated issue with many factors contributing to a culture in which the pressures to perform reach unhealthy and unrealistic levels. The consequences are seen in lack of sleep, increases in academic dishonesty, lack of problem solving skills, a rise in performance enhancing drug use, and mental health issues such as cutting, depression, anxiety, and suicide. 

What has 4-H Done?:
To address the issue, The Placer County Youth Commission developed and implemented an ambitious multi-month plan. The YC reviewed research on the issue and collected local data through surveys and interviews with their peers. The students discovered that a nationally acclaimed documentary, The Race to Nowhere addressed many of their findings. The YC then developed a plan utilizing the film to raise local awareness and discussion of the issue. This plan was submitted as a Healthy Living Grant proposal to the California State 4-H program. Its award made possible the rental of the documentary film and community venues in which to show the film, as well as, some support for marketing and promotion. The marketing plan included flyers, posters, articles, community collaborations, email list announcements, and social media postings. Direct letters of invitation went to policy makers such as principals, school board members, the PTA, and more. The YC designed an evening program and invited expert panelists to give feedback on the issues. Panelist members included school counselors, ministers, adolescent psychologists, and students. The Commissioners hosted and facilitated two events, one at the Auburn Placer Performing Arts Center on and a second at the Roseville High School Performing Arts Center. The audience participated enthusiastically in the post film discussion which helped to create ideas for solutions to the issue. 

The Payoff:
The project’s goals were to increase the community’s awareness of the achievement culture and how it relates to social emotional health, substance use among teens, as well as, to create change amongst families, educators, schools and policy-makers. The program was successful and surpassed the goal of 200 attendees with almost 300 in attendance. Teens and experts were able to share their perspectives. Local newspapers received letters to the editor. A local group called Placer People of Faith Together (whose mission is to encourage civic engagement with the vision to create solutions to issue facing families) joined in the effort to further the issue and oversee follow-up action. The local faith group hosted a follow-up community meeting and began working with districts to set developmentally appropriate guidelines for the proper amount homework and to improve student wellbeing. Also being discussed for future improvements are ways to help parents and students recognize a broad array of student strengths, not just test scores or athletic achievement, and assisting students in finding a healthy balance and means to cope with stress. 

While it is hard to measure the impact of a single program in changing large societal issues, the project definitely made a difference to the individuals who attended by increasing their awareness of the issue. The large majority gave the event an “excellent” rating and reported knowledge gains in many areas.  One question on the post-event evaluation asked, “What actions will you take as a result of attending?”  People had clear and heartfelt responses, for example, “As a parent, limit the number of extra-curricular activities; as an educator, stress importance of critical thinking; as a citizen, help to reshape our definition of success in this country.”  A young person who saw the film later reported, “After the film, I was very different in how I prepared for and took my Advanced Placement tests.  I was so much more relaxed, my life didn’t seem to ride on it.  I knew I’d be OK.” The youth organizers of this project also gained a large amount of skills and knowledge. These skills include action planning, grant writing, event design, marketing, youth research, materials development, event logistics (venues, contracts, ticketing), public speaking, evaluation, and follow-up. Finally, as a highly motivated group that tends to get caught up in the ‘Race to Nowhere’, the project validated the commissioners’ insights and feelings regarding their world and provided them with new perspectives.