Starting over: College students can manage stress to achieve success
Many college students experience high levels of stress throughout the semester. Dealing with feelings of anxiety and sadness can get in the way of achieving academic success. It is OK to not feel OK, but learning to manage stress is an important skill for all college students to develop. Remind yourself that this isn’t forever and to try to make it better tomorrow. Happiness begins from within yourself and doing what you truly love. Being selfish sometimes is necessary for your well-being.
I used to be the kind of student who focused only on the grades I received. I would make myself sick trying to get all A’s. Any time I earned a B, I would feel so guilty. A little voice in my head would tell me I wasn’t smart enough and I felt like a failure. This stress and anxiety began to affect my health. I gained a lot of weight and wasn’t able to sleep well. I forgot to take care of myself in exchange for studying.
Finally in the summer of 2019, I decided to change my lifestyle. I realized that I was not happy in my major and I questioned why I was in it. I decided to start over by changing my major and changing my mindset. Choosing happiness was my new philosophy. I worked hard to change my thinking and started a new chapter.
Studying is still something I have to do, but I’ve learned that my best is good enough even if my score isn’t perfect. Your life is more important and loving yourself should be the first priority. Here are some tips that have helped me and may just help you as well.
- Surround yourself with positive people that value you. You deserve to be loved for who you are.
- Stay rested. Work on developing good sleep habits.
- Let go of perfectionism. School and grades aren’t everything, so don’t make it your entire life.
- Reward yourself when you do great things.
- Create a study plan and stick to it to help manage your time.
Do what makes you feel happy, try your best, and don’t worry. It can be stressful, but remember that grades don’t define your life. College is a beautiful time in your life so enjoy it.
About the author
Natalie Farran
Natalie Farran is a junior double majoring in Health and Human Services and Pre-Health Professions at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She is an honor student as well as a member of her campus chapter of Tau Sigma National Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa. Natalie’s dream is to become a writer. She writes short stories and is preparing to publish her book soon. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends. She also speaks English, Italian, and Arabic.
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