By Victor Agurto. Many college students all over the globe deal with stress and anxiety daily. Just last year, a Gallup poll, released an article titled “College Students Experience High Levels of Worry and Stress” showed that of the students surveyed, the majority “felt stress (66%) and worry (51%)” while “39% said they endured loneliness and 36% sadness the previous day.” While the poll also showed that 76% of those students felt enjoyment the previous day, as well, the percentage of students that felt stress was not far behind. That over half of the surveyed students felt worried is an alarmingly high number, not to mention that there were hundreds of students that felt loneliness and sadness.
College can be a very stressful time for too many young adults, and within that stressful time, there is a period that comes every few months to torment them, the final weeks of the semester. This is a time in which students are deeply affected by the pressures of expectations placed on them, and it isn’t easy to deal with this. Here, QCC students are no exception. So, how exactly do QCC students cope with the end of semester stress?
Anmol, 20, believes that the end of the semester nearing, adds an extra layer of anxiety for many students. “Students are always worried about getting good grades, but when you add in the fact that now the semester is ending, and we have exams or assignments that will heavily impact our final grades, the stress is amplified. They feel as if they’re running out of time in the semester to fix things.” Supriya, 23, believes that from high school to college there is a significant jump in the responsibilities that students have. “College has higher stakes,” she says. Many students aren’t prepared for the large amount of responsibilities that they suddenly have.”
However, there are students, like Fernando, 22, who believe that stress isn’t all bad. “Some stress can be a good thing in my opinion. I usually do my best work when I’m under at least a little bit of pressure, but there has to be a balance. When you are too stressed to function normally, then it becomes a problem.” These growing challenges getting an education, with the added pressures of adulthood, may also become detrimental to one’s success. “Some people are better than others at handling pressure,” claims Francisco, 22. “Many students are overwhelmed by the pressure, and that is reflected in their grades.” All the focus and effort that one puts into doing well in final exams or assignments may actually have the opposite effect.
So, if you don’t study enough, your grades will suffer for it, but if you study too hard, to the point of mental exhaustion, your grades might suffer for that as well? There is a reason why the end of the semester can be so stressful for students, it’s difficult to find the appropriate balance.
Luckily, QCC students have experience with this subject, and they come up with ways to keep themselves afloat during these times. Anmol believes that studying hard is greatly beneficial, but you must also get enough sleep, as resting is equally important for your performance. “Students don’t get enough sleep during finals week; I’ve seen how tired my friends and classmates show up for class.” It is important to always keep yourself, and your wellbeing in mind. Furthermore, Anmol believes that communication is key, and that you should ask your professors for help if you need to. “Talk to your professors about the questions and doubts that you have. You don’t have all the answers, so ask for help.” Not only this, but some students also try to keep themselves as motivated as possible during these crucial weeks. For example, Supriya tries to remind herself what it is that she’s working so hard for. “I try to keep my goals in mind and think about what I have to do to accomplish those goals in the future. That’s how I stay focused and overcome the stress and anxiety.” It is normal to feel under pressure when it comes to the end of a college semester. After all, you’re just looking out for your future. However, there is no need to go through these challenges alone, there are many QCC students going through the same obstacles, and evidently, they are willing to help and give you great advice.
It seems widely accepted that stress is simply an expected aspect of the college experience. Stress is a normal part of life as a human being, and it isn’t detrimental to you, until it is. Once the stress goes from a common human reaction of an alarming event to a prolonged and overwhelming sensation of pressure and anxiety, then that is now chronic stress. While it is common for college students to deal with chronic stress, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways for students to combat these issues.
With the end of the semester looming, it is important for QCC students to know that they are not alone. There are many resources at their disposal. When the support from friends and family isn’t enough, you can find support from the professionals at the QCC Counseling Center. With December right around the corner, QCC students are bound to face challenges and feel the pressure, making it of extreme necessity that they remember to always take care of themselves.
