Wealth = Expectations

One of the main things I took away from the article on the Gunn suicides was the expectations that come with wealth.  It was mentioned that when a child's parents have done everything-- gone to an amazing university, held an amazing job, maintained a family, and secured a spot for their child in a place where they are exposed to so many opportunities, the child feels like they need to achieve that and more.  This idea only appears in elite families, and brings many responsibilities and expectations of the child to essentially uphold the family name/honour.  Most of the time, I don't think this is something that is ever verbalized, but the students definitely feel it.  My parents have never told me that I need to do x, y, and z, but there has always been a push to take advantage of my situation and go above and beyond the average.  Whether that's shown in the APs they encourage me to take, or the planning of my future they want me to start, the point is that there has always been an expectation that I will use the resources and chances I have that they didn't and become more successful in my life than them.  I think this expectation is what weighs on students in our area and brings these negative outcomes like stress, suicide, depression, etc.