Here are suggested words to fill in the blanks:

1. **pressure**
2. **than**
3. **preparing**
4. **best**
5. **feel**
6. **attend**
7. **without**
8. **cause**

Thus, the completed text would read:

**Pressure To Be Successful**

Teens face huge (1) **pressure** around academics, athletic performance and other areas. Competition for college is tighter (2) **than** ever, and teens are (3) **preparing** early on to do 'everything right' to get into the (4) **best** school. Teens often (5) **feel** they must excel in sports, extracurricular, volunteer and other activities to be competitive (6) **to attend** the best schools. Many parents push their teens (7) **without** even realizing it. In some cases, the stress may (8) **cause** teens to use drugs or alcohol as a way to escape from their pressured lives.