By Kathryn O’Brien/reporter
Students shouldn’t give up or get complacent, experienced TCC students suggest for avoiding stress in college.
Sarah Williams, a mother and military veteran who attends NE Campus, has a plan to cope with college stress while maintaining a busy life.
Photo by Katelyn Townsend/The Collegian
“I keep the stress low by completing my assignments before they are due,” she said. “Do not wait until the last minute.”
Williams said going to college later seemed daunting because a lot of information may need to be relearned.
“Even taking notes and studying seems so hard,” she said.
However, despite being a mom and reservist, Williams still has time to attend college and complete her work. She knows that children are unpredictable and work can be unreliable, but despite those challenges, Williams still considers herself a good student.
“Sometimes life catches up to us, and we have to put an assignment on hold, which is OK,” she said. “Just make sure you give yourself plenty of time to complete it.”
Williams also said students shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions or for clarification. Because she also has some classes online, Williams knows communication between student and professor is important.
“The most stressful thing is not understanding what you are expected to do,” she said.
South student Courtney Barber said everyone should remember to breathe and take one day at a time. She emphasized the importance of hobbies and relaxing. She offered suggestions students may want to try when they find college has become stressful, including reading, playing video games, spending time with family and cooking.
“I’m a writer, so I like to write about what I did each day as a way of relaxing and listen to music when I have downtime,” she said.
Barber also said talking to friends and faculty when stress levels get too high helps because they know exactly what college students go through. She suggested scheduling a meeting with a campus counselor with a friend can be helpful. She said having a friend who has gone through the same problems join in on a meeting with the counselor can be comforting for someone who also suffers from anxiety and stress.
Joseph Paris, a transfer student from a college in Florida, added that resting and eating healthy have helped him.
“The important thing to remember is to eat and sleep,” he said. “I’ve been known for drowning myself in my work for a lot of hours at a time, and during that time, I forget to eat and even put off sleeping.”
Paris said that getting an A is the goal, but the goal is not worth it when health suffers in its wake.
“Work an hour at a time and keep an apple nearby,” he said. “Remember to breathe because the semester does not actually go on forever.”
Barber reminded students that professors and counselors are available to help.
“You are not alone in this, and I think remembering that can help a lot of students push through the more difficult times,” she said. “Finals, jobs and challenging professors are really just a few things that make college stressful. Knowing how to handle a million things on your plate makes them seem less of a problem.”
