April is Stress Awareness Month, so let's all be aware of how much anxiety we actually all have. There can be a lot of stressful things that clutter the life of college students.
Here are some of the most stressful things about being a student at Penn State:
1. Scheduling classes
As every Penn State student knows, Lionpath can be...difficult when it comes time to schedule. Not to mention, when the Wi-Fi freezes or crashes, and all you want to do is throw your laptop out the window when you realize you only got 2 out of your 5 classes for next semester. We've all been there.
2. CATA buses
The CATA buses, or rather, the CATA apps with their inaccurate bus locations, continuously cause students across campus to miss their bus. I can't be the only one sprinting after the White Loop, only for the driver to pull away the second I get close! Also, there's the longstanding rumor that if you get hit by a CATA bus, you get free tuition. Now, I'm not saying to jump in front of the Green Link next time it comes by, but someone's gonna have to take one for the team to find out, right?
3. Frat parties
Since the horrible accident where Tim Piazza, a fraternity brother and student, died during a hazing ritual at Theta Beta Pi, Penn State has seriously cracked down on Greek life in regards to parties and alcohol. So much so that some students avoid certain frats—ones that often get shut down by police or going out altogether—in fear of getting in trouble.
4. The gym
Whenever I set foot in the IM building, I often get a feeling that I do not belong there. Everyone around me seems to know what they're doing, whereas I can't even figure out how the stationary bike works! Someone tell me I'm not alone in this! So, I avoid the gym at all costs, unless I can get a good friend to come with me, so I can follow someone's lead.
5. Clubs and organizations
From day 1, there is a lot of pressure to get involved in clubs and orgs on campus! There is the Involvement Fair, where clubs have booths on the HUB lawn, and students can walk around and see if they find a club they're interested in. The problem is, that with over 1,000 different student organizations, from Club Quidditch to THON orgs like Apollo, choosing one, or even just a few, is a daunting task!
6. Money
As an out-of-state student coming all the way from California, I can attest to the fact that out-of-state is the bane of my existence. Add that to the travel expenses getting home, textbooks, clickers and other stuff needed for classes, and the occasional but necessary shopping trip or meal off campus, and all you want to do is play sad music, wrap yourself in your comforter, and cry.
7. Football season
We Penn Staters take our football VERY seriously. So, whether it's the worry of how well we will do this coming season, the stress of getting up early to buy your season tickets over the summer, or struggling to find a friend to buy some tickets off of, football comes with a ton of anxiety that nobody needs.
8. The Willard Preacher
I know I'm not the only one who is driven crazy by this guy! This man stands outside the Willard Building, come rain or shine, and preaches hate, inequality, and nonacceptance. My stress comes from struggling to refrain from yelling something back at him and trying hard to not make eye contact so he doesn't start speaking directly to me.
9. Literally everything else
I know that college as a whole is stressful af, and everyone's got different day to day struggles that give us anxiety, whether it's a 400 level class you're taking for your major or a two-hour chem lab that just makes you wanna die inside! We're all stressed out, so let's take this month to relax and try to de-stress before the semester is up!