As the academic year concludes at my polytechnic, I reflect on the valuable lessons I’ve learned. While students are encouraged to focus on productivity and perfection, it’s equally important to recognize when we’ve reached our limits and need a break.

For a long time, I felt guilty about taking breaks. I believed that resting meant I wasn’t being productive, and that would take me further from my dream university. But eventually, exhaustion caught up with me, and I found myself burnt out, lying in bed, regretting not being kinder to myself.

When I ignored the need for rest, my workload piled up, and the quality of my work suffered. This created a vicious cycle of stress, where taking breaks felt impossible, and the pressure to perform escalated. As a polytechnic student, the pressure to excel and get into a prestigious university is immense, but it often feels like it comes from both internal and external sources.

To even have a shot at university, we need a GPA higher than 3.50, a dazzling portfolio with impressive projects and awards, and the ability to ace interviews. This creates intense pressure, especially when we compare ourselves to our peers in junior colleges who are already in university.

On top of that, the concept of being a “well-rounded individual” means signing up for various activities outside of school, often leading to burnout. These added responsibilities can sometimes cause us to lose focus, affecting both our grades and our portfolios.

I remember a term break when I was immersed in school-related activities every single day without rest. By the time the new semester started, I was operating at only half capacity, and it impacted my grades. I soon realized the importance of genuine rest. Students often neglect sleep and relaxation, thinking it’s a waste of time. But the truth is, we all need rest to function at our best.

Though I’m still learning to balance rest with my responsibilities, I’ve decided to take a break during the upcoming academic term break, ensuring I recharge fully.