Imagine a group of 60 students told to write a Personal essay on purpose. A large proportion respond with “I have a lack of purpose.” In Sir Winston Churchill High School this prompt was given and despite the importance of having purpose not many of the students including myself could answer. A true attest to the starvation like conditions of these students. IB students works day and night, barely eating and holding on by a rope, and the only way they can escape it is by saying “I want to jump off a building.” We have teachers burnt out wanting to rekindle the very thing they set out to do. But unfortunately we have government that barely comprehends the idea of preparing for the future and taking into account the interests of actual individuals involved. I am positive this petition may not do much because as much as Canada has its privilages and freedoms we are way behind in making life adequately living for. 

The most commone phrase said by high school students today is “I want to kill myself.” This should anger all individuals not just because its the education system sytemically encouraging this environment but also as humans with hearts. If you have a heart, you have a life. But some choose for that heart to bear no more. That is not the fault of student, it is the fault partially of the education system that raised them. The Alberta government must acknoledge the thousands of students in mental health care everyday trying to hold on.

I am a Grade 11 student at the highly competitive Sir Winston Churchill public school in Alberta, Canada. As a suicide survivor with Borderline Personality Disorder and anxiety exacerbated by the high-pressure expectations of our educational system, I have firsthand experience of the toll that our current standards are taking on students' mental health. Our lives should not be reduced to merely studying for tests; we deserve experiences that enrich us beyond academics.

The mental health crisis among students and teachers in Alberta is escalating. The Canadian Mental Health Association reports that approximately 5% of male youth and 12% of female youth, age 12 to 19, have experienced a major depressive episode. The situation is no better for teachers who are under immense pressure to meet unrealistic standards while also dealing with their own personal challenges.

Our education system needs reform - one that prioritizes mental well-being as much as academic achievement. We need an approach where schools become safe spaces for learning without undue stress, promoting holistic development rather than just academic excellence.

The future prosperity of Alberta depends on its young citizens - we are paving the way forward. If we want a thriving economy and promising prospects for all Albertans, it starts with making sure our education system supports us in creating a future worth living.

We deserve a government worth trusting and worth working for. If schools want the graduation rate to improve then make it easier to graduate. Make more students want to continue on till graduation. There is correlation with the rising absence rate. If more students need to come to school make it worth coming for. Dont starve teachers working them like dogs.

We critisize the Asian working and educational system when we are no better than them.

I urge you to join me in calling upon the Alberta government to review and reform current educational standards in order to improve the declining mental health rate among both students and teachers. Let's make life worth living for every young person in this beautiful province by giving them an education that respects their individuality, nurtures their well-being, and prepares them adequately for life beyond school walls.

Please sign this petition today – because every student deserves more than just surviving school; they deserve thriving futures.