A BIRD can’t fly with a broken wing, no matter how much vigor it used to have to soar high above the clouds.
The familiar breeze of the wind that once guided it to its desired destination, is now the force that betrays it.
This is what burnout feels like for overachievers who believe that they can no longer reach the same heights as they did before.
Academic burnout is the result of overworking yourself from studying.
The Justice Institute of British Columbia writes that this type of burnout affects a student mentally, physically, and emotionally. It results in being unable to perform as well as you did before by losing motivation, feeling exhausted, and being frustrated even with easy tasks.
Faced with multiple challenges this obstacle brings on top of school responsibilities, how does one cope and get past the constant feeling of never being able to fly again?
RepublicAsia has interviewed three students to share their experiences and difficulties with being burnt-out overachievers.
Birds in the sky
Allyah, an incoming third-year Architecture student from Far Eastern University (FEU) Manila, has been a constant academic achiever since elementary. She has been on the dean’s list for two consecutive years and is also an FEU scholar.
According to Allyah, her love for getting high grades, recognition, and awards has mellowed down due to burnout and the instability of her mental health.
An incoming fourth-year psychology student from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), Mystic, is a student leader who strives to achieve a high general weighted average (GWA) every semester.
Constantly on the dean’s list, Mystic is fueled by their determination and perseverance, seeing every activity as an opportunity to grow.
Yet, even with these factors, Mystic admits that they have experienced academic burnout at times as a result of multiple tasks, balancing life, work, and school, and the pressure to excel due to family and friends’ expectations.
Irene, a third-year dentistry student from Centro Escolar University (CEU), has gained personal achievements such as getting high scores and passing her classes with above-average grades. Despite this, she does not recognize herself as an overachiever.
However, her peers in college refer to her as one due to seeing how hardworking she is. Unbeknownst to them, Irene is struggling to keep up in her academics due to being burnt out.
Broken wings
Birds’ wings are known to be fragile as they are dense and hollow, made this way to help with their flight. When their bones break, Ornithology states, they tend to shatter and splinter.
Similarly, students’ emotional and mental capacities differ. Some may handle pressure better than others, while others buckle under stress. Yet, even with varying fortitudes, many face the same fate of being burnt out.
Allyah admits feeling burnt out from academic work. Starting from high school, she shares that she has overdone herself by joining organizations and competitions, aiming for honors, and pushing herself to her limits.
“I wasn’t able to overcome the stress and pressure which I think weakened my mental capabilities until now that I am in college,” she states.
With her college course, Allyah finds it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle with the heavy workload, feeling pressured to balance everything and excel, sometimes sacrificing meals and sleep. Her burnt-out state often causes her to release her irritation and frustration to others.
In Mystic’s case, they don’t experience burnout constantly, but it does occur during particularly demanding academic periods, such as exams, defense, presentations, and the like. They see these things as their enemy, especially when things start to get out of hand.
At times like these, they feel the effects of burnout start to creep in.
Contrasting Allyah, Mystic values their sleep and meals. They also practice good studying habits such as using studying techniques that are effective for them. But when Mystic sets a time limit in studying and isn’t able to commit to such, it results in them overthinking.
Thus, leading them to doubt themself.
In Irene’s case, she states that she no longer performs with the same enthusiasm and quality she used to at the start of each semester, fluctuating as the weeks go on.
“I believe I exert too much time and effort that I eventually fall into comfort after allowing myself to rest. It becomes a slippery slope and I fall into excessive self-indulgent behavior which I lacked during my periods of ‘high achieving’ phases.” she stated.
Irene shares that her peers are astounded by her diligence in studying, typing out transcripts, and reviewing the lessons as she does so.
Although differing from their perception, Irene states that her studying habits are crude and unrefined; “It’s far from the modest and earnest views I see from those around me.”
What her peers don’t realize is that her will to work hard stems from others relying on said work, particularly with her transcripts, and being embarrassed about not studying when others have.
It becomes a pattern for her, thus causing her to burn out halfway through school periods.
Unfamiliar storms
It is believed that birds who cannot fly are miserable, desperate to meet the skies in which they used to be enveloped.
Familiarity often changes. What used to be clouds and the breeze that kisses one’s wings are now the ground that no bird wishes to be bound to.
To those suffering from academic burnout, getting back to how they used to be is akin to that desperation to fly once more.
There have been several cases wherein students would lose all motivation and confidence, with extreme situations often leading to them having negative thoughts of giving up or even taking their own life.
Allyah said: “When I feel burnt out, I do think that I’m lost, and I want to give up. I feel confused and frustrated at the same time if I really am [on] the right path and if I can really achieve what I want to do in life.”
It would be a constant state of exhaustion physically, mentally, and emotionally, with their daily lives affected by thoughts of never reaching the same potential plaguing their minds.
“I found myself constantly exhausted, emotionally drained, and struggling to keep up with assignments and deadlines due to multiple tasks I am working with,” Mystic shares.
“This burnout affected me deeply wherein I felt overwhelmed and began to doubt my abilities.”
And often, burnouts result in negative habits. Irene says that when burned out, she would get lazier, pushing back her alarm and getting out of bed only when she has to.
It follows by comparing herself to others.
She states: “I have this horrible sense of dread that I’ve failed as a person when others have my exact same schedule, yet they manage to fight through it with ease.”
But what is common for these students when facing burnout is the guilt and disappointment they have for themselves, growing to doubt their capabilities as achievers.
To fly again
Sometimes, birds can heal on their own, yet it is a slow and painful process filled with the grueling frustration of wanting to flap their wings.
Even with the possibility of them healing, the bird may not regain full use of their wings ever again.
Burnout is tricky to heal; methods and regimens that work vary from person to person. But it’s better to start somewhere than to not start at all.
- Open up
You don’t have to carry this pain alone. Allyah recommends confiding in a friend, family, partner, or someone you trust.
“I opened myself up to the people I trusted the most and it lifted the weights that pulled me down.”
- Breathe
In Mystic’s case, they pause and take a deep breath in situations where they are feeling burnt out to calm their nerves and regain their motivation.
”When I’m feeling burnt out and drained, these moments of reflection help me find my drive again.”
- Forgive yourself
The most difficult part of healing is learning to forgive yourself.
Irene learned to come to terms with her insecurities of not being enough; “I had to forgive myself and not see myself as something that should be perfect, and instead I should be happy.”
Re-learning how to fly
After experiencing burnout, it is common to feel lost as if a bird relearning how to fly.
There comes the risk of breaking its wings once more for the sake of feeling the wind beneath its feathers.
There is also fear of never flying again if it does not try.
It is an experience that changes people, learning about yourself more and understanding your needs more.
For Allyah, she expressed that after going through academic burnout she started to break off from being an overachiever.
She is happier and more at peace, learning to handle life slowly but steadily.
The same can be said for Mystic whose aim has changed, focusing now on her well-being and achieving sustainable successes as opposed to always going for grand outcomes.
Experiencing burnout became a turning point for them to set clear boundaries and seek support when needed.
“It showed me that being an overachiever isn’t just about academic success—it’s also about resilience, self-care, and knowing when to step back,” Irene said.
She shared that even with her mental state suffering because of academic burnout, she realized that life still goes on.
Even though she still has to go on, she says: “I’ll be okay, I know that because I’m still here.”
The horizon is vast. It is constant. The sky will remain to wait for birds to soar when they are ready once more.
With a slight pull of the wings down and a thrust upwards, a bird is meant to fly.
With reports from Catherine Jules C. Juvida
