I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we’re all apparently participating in a mass hysteria. A trauma so deep that has so permeated our Millennial and Gen-X existences that we’re having nightmares—about the very same thing.

Does this sound familiar?

You’re back in college. Your grades are good, you’re about to graduate, you’re on the highest of highs. You’re about to embark on your real adult life. Everything is going great.

Except.

Except that one class this semester that you completely forgot you signed up for. The one where you haven’t been to a single lesson. It’s the end of the semester, your final one, and you can’t retake the class and graduate on time.

You’re going to fail.

It will wreck your GPA.

It will wreck your future.

What is WRONG with all of us??

Seriously, what is actually wrong with us that we’re all having the same exact dream? Every single person I know (who I’ve mentioned this to) has had this dream. Every person who has gone to college who cared about their grades has this nightmare about some class they were most fearful of. In my case, it’s math. In my husband’s, it’s English. Our two worst subjects, respectively.

More importantly, what’s wrong with our school system that a pressure so great has been placed on us that we’re all having the same stress nightmare? Why does it seem to only be one or two generations (so far)—all those who grew up with the notion that college is the answer, grades are of ultimate importance, and your entire future is at stake? Older generations don’t seem to have this same nightmare, college or not.

As focus on grades and college isn’t getting much better, I imagine that future generations will have this issue as well.

I imagine that the answer to this is returning to a focus on actual education rather than a representation of that education, i.e., grades. Reminding the growing teen that being a student isn’t everything. Being a well-rounded person is. 

Until then, though, know that you’re not alone. We’re all having this crazy, stress-filled fever dream, and you’re not back in college. You’re not forgetting a class. You’re not failing (you know, unless you’re actually in a position to do so). 

So be strong, and sleep stronger. May your dreams be ever in your favor.