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PAGE 68 kid. So you know, it’s hard.” Parents connected this to social isolation, particularly after school or in the summer. “Sports are very unaffordable for most, and since a lot of the other children are very busy with their sports and other activities, those children whose parents cannot afford don’t necessarily have anyone to play with in the neighborhood. Like they can’t go outside and play like children and get their exercise that way, because the other children are busy going to their sports practices. So there’s a big divide when it comes to income and accessibility.” Youth noted the limited opportunities to engage in sports, especially in high school, if sports were not their primary focus. “With sports…it’s not casual. After you hit age 12 if you’re not dedicating your life to that sport, you’re going to get out. And I think that’s really unfair to ask a teenager, like ‘Hey, you have to pass school, but I also need you to be the next Olympic gold medalist in this sport. And if you’re not? Then go away.’” Some expressed frustration at their inability to participate in activities outside school hours because of academic responsibilities and pressure. Transportation barriers (detailed below) also prevented youth from participating in sports and other after-school activities. ACADEMIC AND OTHER PRESSURE/ RESPONSIBILITIES Youth and adults alike spoke of the pressure for kids to be successful in multiple aspects of life. Youth in every focus group mentioned this pressure, naming sports, other extracurricular activities, work, grades, friends, family responsibilities, and the challenge of getting enough sleep as contributing to it. One noted: “What I really dislike about school is how competitive it is. It puts a lot of pressure on you. You have kids going against each other and expecting to be like on varsity teams or whatever, taking six APs and you’re always trying to match your friends. And that creates this really toxic cycle for your mental health. And with the college stuff—I gotta get into Stanford, and gotta get a job or an internship. That’s something that’s really damaging to our mental health.” Another said: “We help out with my grandparents a lot because my grandma wasn’t very well mentally and my grandpa was legally blind. And even now, there’s been days where my mom was like, ‘Can you go over to your grandfather’s house and make sure he’s okay?’ And I think a lot of people don’t consider that. Kids sometimes have to step into that caregiver role, whether it’s for little siblings who are left at home during the summer or a grandparent. And it’s hard a lot of the times to figure out how to balance schoolwork, social time, and all those needs in the family.” Students also spoke of competing pressures from coaches, teachers, school counselors, and family members. Youth and counselors alike said this pressure can sometimes escalate, with mental health consequences, as described below. YOUTH SAFETY Safety, including factors that threaten both physical and psychological safety, is at the forefront of youth concerns. Physical Safety. Physical safety concerns included the threat of in-school violence (e.g., fights, shootings, bomb threats); experience with or threat of sexual assault; and community-based violence. One student spoke of feeling unsafe, and to a certain extent, helpless: “I don’t know how much you can physically do downtown or things like that, to make people feel safe. I carry pepper spray with me everywhere I go, even if it’s in the middle of the day, because there’s always that inkling in the back of your mind where it’s like, if someone’s really determined to make things unsafe or dangerous, then there’s nothing I can do to stop them.” Youth were concerned about sexual harassment, and cited wide-spread allegations of sexual assault and violence, including rape. Students were frustrated about the response of adults, ranging from lack of awareness to covering up crimes. They were particularly concerned about the lack of investigation or consequences when allegations involved student athletes. EASTERN ALAMEDA COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES NEEDS ASSESSMENTSS Page 126 of 554