We, the 8th-grade students of University Middle School in Southfield, have worked hard all year to meet the high academic and personal expectations placed on us. We've maintained our grades, taken responsibility for our actions (and sometimes others'), and stayed committed to sports and extracurricular activities. Now, as the school year comes to a close, we’re facing an increasing challenge: a heavy workload that’s being assigned all at once, right before the year ends. On top of that, many of us are preparing for important tryouts and entrance exams for high school—an already stressful time without the added pressure of last-minute projects, essays, and assessments. While we know the curriculum is important and deadlines matter, the timing and amount of work being assigned now is starting to feel overwhelming. Research from the American Psychological Association (2020) shows that high stress levels in students can lead to anxiety, burnout, and depression. When assignments pile up at the end of the year, it reduces the time we have to study effectively, relax, and prepare ourselves mentally and physically for what’s next. We’re asking for a more balanced approach. Spreading out assignments more evenly and being mindful of deadlines could make a big difference—not just in our grades, but in how we feel and how well we perform. We believe that University Middle School can maintain its high academic standards while also protecting the wellbeing of its students. We’re proud to be students here, and we want to finish the year strong not stressed out. Please sign this petition to ask the Southfield Public Schools District to work with our teachers to review and adjust the end-of-year workload. Let’s make sure success doesn’t come at the cost of our mental health. The worst they could say is no.