Over twenty five years of my life I spent numerous hours putting athletes under different types and to various degrees of pressure.

But my philosophy was never put anyone under an amount or type of pressure that I could not support them through.

So when I see over the last week how some of this states (NSW) teenagers are dealing with the pressure of their final HSC exams I get a little upset.

Now don’t get me wrong I understand the importance of the exams but I also understand how important it is for them to realise that their future life does is not totally dependent upon the results of these exams.

I was totally gutted to hear that in the past week a young student in QLD committed suicide rather than sit his final exams.

Once again I understand the importance of these exams. But if a young persons view is that it is better to end their life than sit a particular exam, then we have a problem and a big one.

Unfortunately this is not the only time I have heard of this or similar situations. Last week another young lady here in Newcastle would not get out of the car to go sit her English exam.

As I said I understand what society expects from school leavers so they can get the start in their professional career but if the pressure to perform leads to these and similar reactions by these young people then something needs to change.

And change fast!