What Working Closely With Teenagers Reminded Me About Education and Emotions

Over the last few days, I worked closely with a small group of teenage students as a follow-up to a workshop conducted at their school.

Interestingly, every student who came to me said the same thing in the beginning:

“I can’t concentrate on my studies.”
“My marks are going down.”

But as the sessions unfolded, it became very clear that the cause behind this concern was different for every single student.

What looked like a “study problem” on the surface was, in reality, a deep emotional crisis within — one that was quietly creating either physical discomfort or mental restlessness.

Many students found it difficult to understand that feeling negative emotions is not wrong. They were unsure how to process fear, sadness, confusion, or inner conflict — and how to move from that state toward something more balanced.

Being teenagers, they were also navigating subtle but impactful conflicts in their relationships with teachers, friends, and parents. These unresolved emotions eventually showed up as blocks affecting physical health and mental clarity.

Today’s teenagers are emotionally saturated — constantly exposed to intense emotional stimuli through screens and social dynamics, yet rarely taught how to process them.

When emotions are understood and processed properly, they are empowering, not draining.

After nearly 12.5 hours of sessions with only two short breaks, I felt tired — but deeply fulfilled. With the right support, students reconnected with clarity, confidence, and happiness.

👉 Today’s teenagers need more emotional support than ever before.
👉 They need safe spaces where emotions are acknowledged, not suppressed.
👉 And they need guidance to see emotions as allies, not obstacles.

When we support emotional well-being alongside academics, we don’t just help students perform better — we help them grow into stronger, more balanced human beings.