High school brought more than classes and homework—it brought phones, social media, and an unspoken competition. At first, it was exciting, a new way to connect. But soon, every post, every story, felt like a performance with invisible judges. Who had the most friends? Who looked happiest? Who was living the “best” life?

The pressure to keep up grew heavier each day. I checked my phone compulsively, even in class, trying to drown out the growing anxiety with likes and comments that never seemed enough. School became a stage where everyone was trying to outshine each other. It was haunting how something meant to connect us often made us feel lonelier.

When schools banned personal devices during hours, a small relief settled over us—a brief moment to just be ourselves without screens. But for those years trapped in digital noise, the scars remain. The challenge now is learning to listen to real voices, to build real relationships, and to remind ourselves that our value isn’t a number on a screen—it’s who we are when no one’s watching.