18/10/2025
๐๐ข๐๐จ๐ ๐ก | Losing Yourself in the Name of Success
Words by Zeyrele Dupaya
"๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐จ ๐ช๐ช๐ด๐ช๐ฑ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ฎ๐ฐ, '๐ฅ๐ช ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ต๐ช ๐จ๐ข๐ฏ๐ช๐ต๐ฐ.โ
Do you remember when you used to do things simply because you enjoyed them โ not to prove a point, not to outdo anyone, and not to please expectations?
Oftentimes, we disregard burnout because of our desire to succeed. We are constantly bombarded with the idea that our worth is directly tied to our productivity. Students are often told that success requires sacrifices and that they must work tirelessly. The internet is filled with people engaging in all-night study sessions and busy schedules, to the point that we have romanticized this behavior, leading us to believe that resting is mere laziness. This trend glorifies constant effort and sleepless nights as indicators of dedication and success. But it should not always be the case. How can you succeed if, in the process of working hard, you lose yourself? Working hard doesn't mean you should ignore your exhaustion.
The idea that if you work hard enough, you can achieve anything has been deeply ingrained in us. But because of this narrative, we forget to acknowledge burnout. When we're always pushing ourselves to work hard, we lose our ability to connect, to be creative, and to find joy outside of school and responsibilities. Instead of being human beings, we become human doings. While we are busy celebrating the all-nighters, we fail to acknowledge the exhaustion, anxiety, and physical damage that come with them. Without teaching us to understand our limits, we are told to push past them. We see the finished productโthe high grades, but not the shaking hands, the drained energy, the tears, and the missed weekends that made it possible.
Scientifically, the continuous stress of academic pressure triggers the release of cortisol, or the stress hormone. While helpful in the short term, prolonged high levels of cortisol can cause physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and a weakened immune system. It can also cause a complete loss of passion for the work we once loved: ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ฑ๐ข๐ด๐ด๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ, ๐ช๐ต ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ฆ๐น๐ฉ๐ข๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ. The same thing that was supposed to bring us success ends up making us miserable and unproductive in the long run. The grind can be a trap, a long drive that we cannot seem to get off, even when we know it is hurting us.
Romanticizing hard work but ignoring burnout creates a toxic environment where taking a break is seen as a weakness. We fear that if we rest, even for a moment, we will fall behind. But the truth is, a body and mind operating on fumes will never be as effective as one that is well-rested and cared for. Ignoring burnout isn't a sign of strength; itโs a path to physical and mental breakdown. True success isn't about how much you can endure. It's about working smart, setting boundaries, and understanding that your well-being is the most important thing you have. Your grades and achievements don't define your worth. Yes, you have high ambitions and you have to work hard for them, but you are allowed to rest and to get tired. It's time to stop romanticizing the grind and start acknowledging yourself. ๐๐ฆ๐ญ๐ง-๐ค๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ช๐ด ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ข ๐ญ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐บ; ๐ช๐ตโ๐ด ๐ข ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ค๐ฆ๐ด๐ด๐ช๐ต๐บ.
As I once read, โChase your dreams without losing sight of who you are." Work hard, yes. Dream big, absolutely. But donโt let the pursuit of success strip away the very person who dreamed in the first place.
๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐ โ ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ปโ๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐.
