Today, college students are so lucky. Most students do not have a care in the world and are able to enjoy a stress-free, calm and relaxing life. It is unimaginable as to why on earth these kids cannot get their assignments in on time! Falling short of a 3.5 GPA is downright embarrassing; what else does a college student possibly have to worry about other than school? Nothing! They may say it is stressful, but really, college is a cake walk, probably the least stressful thing on the planet. If a student is having a difficult time they are either procrastinating, or just don’t care. College is so easy.
OK, if you’re still with me after reading that paragraph, you are probably on to something. Everything written above is completely false! The only way the words “college” and “easy” could be in the same sentence is if the sentence read “College is easily the worst experience I have ever had." That statement might sound exaggerated but to some people it is so relatable.
According to a study published on NBC News students were interviewed on a college campus stated feeling lonely, depressed and like failures and one in five students said they have seriously considered dropping out due to stress. Is anyone surprised by this? I am not. The same study demonstrated that 40 percent of students admitted being stressed out very frequently and that one in ten students have tried or have known someone to commit suicide. Again, not surprised. Almost 15 percent of college students get diagnosed with a mental health condition while in school and still no one believes us when we say ,“I am going to have a mental breakdown by the end of this semester!”
It is no longer an option to go to school and not have a part-time job. Between paying for tex books, getting gas to commute to class and paying tuition, your bank account will be empty by midterms if you do not have a job. Sure, everyone has to balance a job with family, or a job with sometimes a second job, but your professor and your boss are not on the same schedule. They do not care why you were late, why something is not done and they definitely do not care about your excuse. You end up being late for work because of homework and then have to stay late to make up for it, and then here you are, falling asleep in your 8 a.m. and the vicious cycle goes on.
“College is the best time of your life.” Ever hear that lie? If feeling anxious, stupid, poor, depressed, and exhausted are “the best years” of my life, then I am having a great time! It seems that our professors forget that while we are students, we are also employees, sisters, moms, dads, friends, etc. We have roles other than “student” and when school is happening, life does not stop. We get told not to stress out, but is that even possible? The minute college kids are done with one 20-page paper, another assignment is thrown at them. Real life responsibilities do not stop just because you have a paper due, life is constantly throwing things at you. Work does not pile up simply because of procrastination, which is what too many professors, parents and other people may say.
Wanting to drop out, feeling like a failure and contemplating suicide should not be normal things a college student thinks about. I thought college was supposed to make people hopeful for the future? As finals approach, I know too many people who would probably be part of the statistics mentioned previously. Who knows, maybe this is just my stress talking? Or maybe I am just stressed because I enjoy sleeping rather than pulling all-nighters? Or maybe it is just a coincidence that a majority of college students are stressed for no reason? Maybe one day I will look back and say, “Wow, that was easy. Best years of my life."
