As a college student, the pressure to succeed can cause overwhelming feelings, leading to burnout, anxiety or even loneliness.
Students are often caught in a juggling act that they cannot control: dealing with school or being away from family. There have been times I experienced these feelings as well. When trying to balance work, school and a social life, it doesn’t always work out the way you want it to.
I have often felt like we are supposed to figure things out on our own when, in reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth, because no one truly succeeds on their own.
More and more, I have come to terms with the idea that I do not know everything despite wanting to think that I do. There have been so many times these last few weeks that I have reached out to family or close friends to talk to, even if they may not be one hundred percent sure on how to help.
The point is, even if they can’t fix whatever issues have arisen, they are still there for me, offering whatever support or guidance they can.
Constantly trying to manage plans and assignments when it just won’t work with your schedule takes such a huge toll on your mental clarity.
I know I am not alone as well, especially when many students are leaving home for the first time. So many people are also off to a fresh start, having to make all new friends. It is like the perfect breeding ground for anxiety and feeling overwhelmed.
Without a reliable support system, these feelings can be intensified.
Having loved ones, friends or even professors and other mentors to lean on can help you cope with various setbacks. Talking with someone with an outsider perspective about these issues can often help shed light on the situation.
Feeling overwhelmed can negatively affect how we approach certain problems, making minor issues seem large. With a reliable support system, we are receiving fresh perspectives from a viewpoint that isn’t our own.
Not only can a good support system help regulate your emotional well-being, but it can also help set you up for academic success.
Surrounding yourself with like-minded people who share similar goals can definitely boost your motivation. Discussing challenges with people who are in the same field, or going into the same field, makes it so much easier to deal with academic stress. It gives me peace of mind when I can ask a question and, rather than be ridiculed for not knowing, be given respect for at least trying.
A recent study by Australian psychologist Gisela van Kessel and her team looked at data from 26 studies with more than 68,000 students, and found that students who feel like they belong tend to do better in school and have better mental health. In other words, feeling connected makes a real difference, not just in grades but also in overall well-being.
Reaching out when in need, or asking for help when unsure, should never be viewed as a weakness and I firmly believe it is still a stigma among students. You don’t need to handle everything on your own to seem successful or independent, even if it seems like society says you should be on your own.
My words of encouragement would be to break down this barrier. Reach out for help when you need it. No one will judge you for trying. Whether that’s testing things out with a counselor, joining a registered student organization on campus or confiding in a close friend, it will make things better.
Showing vulnerability and building trust within a community will help you create the right connections. These connections are ultimately what can guide us to personal growth and success.
Seek these communities that call your name. Be open to making new connections. You will know when you find a group or person that is right for you.
It is so important to establish some type of support system early on in your college career. I found early on that it was essential for me to have a system of my own and to this day, I still rely on my people to help me with whatever I am going through.
No one succeeds alone and in college, the right support system can make all the difference.