SAN MARCOS— College is often seen as the best years of one’s life, but as the end of the semester approaches, academic stress brought by final exams challenges the mental well-being of many students.
Although college can bring lifelong memories and friendships, it can also be among the most stressful and taxing times of one’s life. The intense transition from living at home to moving possibly hours away from family and friends, can be more than trouble for some. Having to live on your own, cook for yourself, and be self-sufficient for the first time is a lot more difficult than a lot of people assume. On top of this, final exams bring a whole new wave of stress for college students. For many, these tests can make or break their grade in the class and play an important role in the deciding factors for what their next semester will look like. Decreased sleep and heightened anxiety during finals can cause mental health issues. The fear of failure and the need to perform well leaves students burnt out and exhausted.
Kedrick Bryant, a senior at Texas State University, says his transition from high school to college was one of the most difficult experiences he has been through.
“I had a really difficult time adjusting to college life for the first time,” said Bryant. “Being away from my family and my friends that I had grown up with my whole life really took a toll on my mental state. I was having to figure out how to live on my own and provide for myself for the first time all while attending difficult classes, keeping up with homework, and rushing a fraternity. This left me with little to no room for time for myself. It was truly very hard.”
Not only is adjusting to a new life as a freshman difficult, but trying to find a balance between a school life and a personal life can also be a big struggle for many. The feeling of not having enough time in the day to complete academic-related tasks, having time for friends, and time alone can be overwhelming and hard on the mind. Students often lose their mental health in the mix of things, not realizing before they are already struggling. This can cause many students to miss out on extracurricular activities in college leaving students stuck and not socializing with friends.
Leah Mendoza, a sophomore Texas State student and fraternity member, says she spends more than seven hours a day in the library studying during finals week.
“I will normally wake up, eat breakfast, and then immediately go to the library,” says Mendoza. “I just feel like there isn’t enough time in the day to study for every test and exam that I have. I do what I can while I’m there but I get so tired and burnt out from studying for so long. It just feels like this is the only way I’ll be able to make good grades on my tests. I normally don’t even leave the library until it closes.”
In a survey done by the American College Health Association, nearly three-quarters of college student participants said they suffer from moderate or severe psychological distress. In a separate study that surveyed over 90,000 college students, 44% of them said they had symptoms of depression during their time in college. Even worse, a third of college students said that they were “so depressed they couldn’t function.” Although these numbers are quite high, the majority of students struggling do not seek help. Recently, four in ten college students have heavily considered dropping out due to mental health issues becoming so severe. A lot of time, students struggle to find ways to help their mental health, and don’t know how to ask for help when they need it.
Sorority mental health advisor Phelan Flynn says finding ways to take care of yourself is the most important way to improve your mental health during these stressful times.
“This answer sounds cliche, but making time for yourself,” said Flynn. “What I’ve learned the most is that studying for 15 hours straight is not going to get you all that information. Studying for five hours, taking a break, drinking a tea, doing a face mask, something relaxing that brings those cortisol levels down and helps you actually be productive. This shows a direct correlation of productivity. Prioritizing yourself and your well-being and taking a break to relax.”
Being able to organize your time in a way that allows for taking care of yourself and leaving time for academics can be extremely difficult. Finding ways in which help you when it comes to taking care of your mental health can be tough, but asking for help is okay.
Texas State Counseling Center: (512) 245-2208
Texas State Health Clinic: (512) 245-2161
