Case study 1
Rahul, a 17-year-old student, is in his final year of high school. His parents have always
emphasized the importance of a stable career and want him to pursue engineering, believing it
will provide financial security and societal respect. However, Rahul is deeply passionate about
music and dreams of becoming a professional musician. He excels in playing the guitar and has
even won several inter-school competitions.
As the board exams approach, Rahul feels immense pressure to live up to his parents’
expectations. His daily routine is filled with arguments at home, sleepless nights, and moments
of self-doubt. Rahul finds himself torn between his passion and his sense of obligation to his
family. He begins to feel anxious, his academic performance declines, and he starts experiencing
mood swings and isolation.
Discussion Questions:
a) How can students effectively communicate their personal aspirations to their families?
b) What strategies can help students like Rahul balance their interests and familial
expectations?
c) How can schools incorporate career counseling to help students align their passions and
goals?
Case study 2
Aisha, a high-performing and diligent student, has always been among the top scorers in her
class. However, as her board exams approach, she begins to experience intense exam stress.
Despite months of preparation, she feels overwhelmed and fears that she might not perform well.
Her stress manifests in physical symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and heart palpitations.
During exams, Aisha often blanks out or makes careless mistakes due to her anxiety, leading to
grades that are below her expectations. This triggers a vicious cycle of self-doubt, negative self-
talk, and sleeplessness. Her parents and teachers, noticing her struggles, advise her to “stay
calm,” but their well-meaning advice only adds to her pressure.
Discussion Questions:
a) How can schools create a stress-free environment for students?
b) What are some techniques or strategies that Aisha can adopt?
c) How can parents support their children emotionally during high-pressure periods?
Case study 3
Kunal is a hardworking student who dreams of becoming a doctor. However, he is aware of the
intense competition for medical entrance exams and notices that many of his peers attend
expensive coaching institutes. His family cannot afford such coaching due to financial
constraints. Kunal begins to feel inferior and doubts whether he can compete with his peers
without formal coaching.
To make matters worse, his classmates often discuss their advanced preparation and mock
tests, which makes Kunal feel left behind. He starts to withdraw from group discussions and
avoids talking about his future plans. His feelings of guilt about burdening his family financially,
combined with his fear of failure, lead to low self-esteem and depressive tendencies.
Discussion Questions:
a) How can we address the impact of peer pressure on academic and mental health?
b) What alternative learning resources can help students like Kunal achieve their goals?
c) How can society reduce the stigma around financial limitations?
