Hello! I'm Jiang 61.
I'm glad I can answer your question. You ask, "I'm in my last year of high school, always worried about others, but I also have to take the college entrance exam."
"I've read your introduction, understand your feelings, and want to discuss them with you.
1. Introduction
1⃣ Empathy
You say, "I'm a senior in high school, and the college entrance exam is in three months. I feel bad when I see my friends' poor grades. I feel guilty when I compare my own good grades, so I don't study hard for the exam."
You know the college entrance exam is important and you can't slack off.
You are a high school senior taking the college entrance exam. You worry about hurting others' feelings if you do well.
You are a high school senior. In three months, you will take the college entrance exam. You don't want to excel because you're afraid of hurting others' feelings.
But you can't slack off. You're torn between these two emotions.
Compassion
You feel bad when you see others do worse than you. You feel guilty because you do better than others.
2. Example
A friend of mine has been depressed because of the pressure of the college entrance exam. I used to eat with her, but after the third year of high school, I went to the cafeteria because we ate separately. I ate with another fast runner, and she ate alone.
I avoid communicating with her because I don't want to feel sorry for her and get involved. I also don't want to study hard in case it makes her depression worse. She has tried hard in her studies without results, so she tends to be negative. Her grades are not very good now.
I'm afraid to go and talk to her after class to comfort her. There's just not enough time. There are only three months left, and I have to study. When I eat with another classmate, I feel sorry for her when I see her sitting alone, but there's nothing I can do. Senior year is intense, and I have to go back early to finish my homework.
"
Separately
One of your friends is depressed. She works hard but her grades haven't improved much.
You used to eat together a lot, but you drifted apart because you had to run to eat, which your friend couldn't do.
Control yourself.
You worry that if you hang out with your friend a lot, she will be ashamed of her poor grades and become depressed. So, during class breaks, you don't approach her or comfort her. You feel sorry for her, but you have to focus on yourself and get good grades.
3⃣️, conflict
You think, "Should I stay away from her? I want good grades. People expect me to do well. I can't let them down or myself."
I know I shouldn't care about other people's feelings, but I just can't do it. I want to fight for myself in these last three months.
"
Conflicts
To get good results on the college entrance exam, you'll think about how your friends feel.
and
You want to live for yourself, not for others. You have a lot of expectations, so you want to work hard for yourself and for others.
You're torn between emotions.
2. The cause of the conflict
1⃣️, Compassion
Compassion
Compassion is an emotion that involves feeling for others who are suffering.
Conflicting emotions
Compassion has limits. It can lead to excessive sympathy, which affects decision-making. You feel guilty about sticking to your decision because you sympathize with the weak.
You feel guilty because you sympathize with the weak.
2. Sense of responsibility
Responsibility
Responsibility means caring about yourself and others, as well as the cause, country, and society. If your own interests and those of the country, society, and others conflict, you should put the interests of the country, society, and others first.
Selfish
You have a strong sense of responsibility. At a crossroads in life, you know what choice to make. The other person is just someone other than your friend.
You take responsibility for yourself and your actions. You have the courage to work hard for the college entrance exam. You feel guilty when you give up on others.
3⃣, due to personality
Altruistic personality
Altruistic personalities are hardworking, sensitive, caring, and considerate. They serve others and society, not themselves.
They listen to others, help them, and value helping others.
Selfish personality
A self-interested person is focused on themselves. They pursue their own interests and happiness, and don't care about others.
A self-interested person may be selfish, self-interested, or competitive.
A paradox.
Everyone is a mix of different personalities, and the questioner is no exception. From the questioner's introduction, I feel that the questioner has both altruistic and selfish traits.
It's a paradox. When the altruistic personality takes over, the questioner feels guilty about leaving their friends. When the egoistic personality takes over, the questioner feels they should think more about themselves.
Your character is to blame, and there is no right or wrong.
3. What to do
1. Take responsibility.
Life's crossroads
Life's crossroads are times when you make big decisions. Different choices lead to different lives. There are many crossroads in life. These crossroads are important.
For example, school, work, marriage.
I am responsible for myself.
It is rare for the questioner to make decisions about themselves and take responsibility for their own destiny.
From an altruistic perspective, we can only help others if we are strong. This is a strong sense of responsibility. So, there is no need to feel guilty if others lag behind.
2. Achieve yourself.
Have a clear goal.
The questioner knows what he wants and has a clear goal. He should not hesitate or be uncertain about this.
Achieve yourself.
Know yourself. Do what you're good at. Achieve your goals.
3. Care about others.
Care about others.
We don't have to be together every day to show we care. Just say hello every day to show we care and think of her, and keep in touch.
Encourage her.
Friends need encouragement when they're struggling. We can encourage them by celebrating their progress.
For high school students, how to get through the important gaokao juncture is a major topic. First, know yourself.
I wish the questioner the best!
Comments
I understand your feelings and the pressure you're under. It's tough to balance being a good friend with preparing for such an important exam. You need to focus on your studies because it's crucial for your future, and you shouldn't feel guilty for wanting to do well. Your friends should support you in achieving your goals just as you would support them.
It sounds like you're carrying a heavy burden of responsibility not only for yourself but also for others who look up to you. It's okay to prioritize your own needs sometimes. The best thing you can do for your friend is to succeed, showing her that it's possible to overcome these challenges. Maybe after the exams, you'll have more time to reconnect and provide her with the support she needs.
You're right to concentrate on your studies during this critical period. Sometimes we have to make difficult decisions that might seem selfish at the moment but are necessary for our longterm goals. Keep reminding yourself that pushing through now will benefit you and potentially inspire those around you.
Balancing empathy with personal ambition is challenging, especially when you care deeply about others. However, remember that by taking care of yourself and striving for your best, you set a positive example. Perhaps you could find small ways to support your friend without compromising your study time, like sending an encouraging message or checking in briefly. Focus on what you can control and try not to let guilt detract from your preparation for the exam.