We all have worries and anxieties and sometimes we let them build up to the point where it sends us into a panic. When that happens, my friends and I pull out the wine and start to unload our emotional turmoils onto each other. Over time, I realized we all pretty much had some of the same anxieties about the world and what helped us feel less anxious was the fact that we weren’t the only ones worrying about this stuff.
1. Our imminent college debt.
The shadow of our thousands upon thousands of dollars of student loans is a major stressor in our lives. Our education costs us so much that we don’t know how we are ever going to pay it back or if we ever will.
2. Will we find a job after graduation?
I really don’t want to be a career waitress but none of us know for certain if we will ever find a job in our field of study, so it may not be a choice.
3. Will we be able to get into grad school?
As a psychology major to do much of anything with my degree, I have to go to grad school. The problem is whether or not you get in. Is your resume good enough? Did you do enough organizations or volunteer hours? Were you involved enough? Can you find enough letters of recommendations? It’s a lot of things that add onto this worry.
4. Will we even graduate on time?
The stress of having to pay for an extra semester of tuition is not appealing. We are already in so much debt that we don’t want to add onto it.
5. Will my paycheck be able to cover my rent?
We are college kids working college jobs on a schedule that doesn’t allow us to work over a certain amount of hours. On top of that most of us make minimum wage. With our hours given and our hourly salary, we sometimes worry about covering rent.
What I’ve written above are just a few of the worries are common for everyday college students, and I find relief by talking about them with my friends who are also worrying about these as well. However, I don’t suffer from anxiety and I only really start to panic about these on days I feel particularly overwhelmed. If anyone feels constantly overwhelmed by their worries or anxieties, or finds themselves having panic attacks then they should schedule an appointment with their counseling center and get some help.