As students enter what’s labeled “the best years of our lives,” expectations fall short when met with harsh rules.

Between new advisory travel laws, phone policies and independence restrictions, school feels more like a monotonous loop of homework, tests and assignments instead of an environment for growth.

Students are unmotivated, exhausted and overworked, forced into a schedule not conducive to learning for anyone, let alone the growing minds and bodies of teens.

High school is supposed to prepare teenagers for the future and give a safe environment to learn dependability, accountability and time management, but this cannot be achieved if not given the opportunity and room to learn these crucial life skills.

Students are given the responsibilities of adults, but the freedom of children –– expected to manage seven classes, sports, extracurriculars, a potential job and still maintain a healthy equilibrium and show up each day ready to learn.

It’s not shocking there has been a decrease in school spirit and class participation; students feel punished by their school, so why should they celebrate it in turn?

There is a severe lack of trust felt in every new policy. There will always be students who take advantage of and break rules –– that will be true no matter how strict they are –– but the entire student body should not be punished for the actions of a few.

If this is truly supposed to be the best years of our lives, we should be granted space to enjoy our last years before adulthood.

We should be allowed to memorialize the fun we’ve had with our friends.

We should have the right to listen to ourselves and decide what’s best for us in the moment.

Above all else, we should be trusted enough to build the habits that will support us in the future.

|This staff editorial is the representation of the opinion of The Tiger Print staff.