It’s that time of the semester where the stress has probably started to consume you-- I know it has for me.These past two weeks, I had three papers due and two exams, with three more exams and two papers to follow this week. And on top off all of the course work is trying to balance extracurricular activities to help alleviate some of the stress, but in the end, those too could be causing more stress that you just do not need.

Being a college student is a lot of hard work. When did college become this huge marathon that never stops? The stress and anxiety started the first day of classes for me this semester because I could just feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. When did the expectation that 20-somethings can do it all start? When did the college years become this time where you are so focused on everything except for yourself? We’re all still learning who we are, that’s part of the reason most of us probably came to college. I don’t know what I want to do after I graduate from UNG, but I do know that I want to help people, and that’s a good start, right?

It’s very hard to come by students who know exactly what they want to do after graduation. Some have an idea or a dream, but it rarely ever happens for them anymore because the job market is tight and employers want their applicants to have a certain amount of experience already under their belt by the time they graduate. If the job search doesn’t work in your favor, some will end up going to graduate or professional school to get another degree so they can maybe get the job they want.--but that doesn’t always work out either because of how competitive those institutions are. Let’s not forget about the student debt we’re all probably in as well. Some graduates have thousands of dollars to pay off in debt, but cannot find a job in their degree field afterwards in order to start paying off their debt. So then what do you do?

Now, this may all seem overwhelming or that I am overthinking the future way too much, but this is a real thing that is happening in our society for the millennial generation today. We’re expected to do great things and change the world, but there are only so many hours in a day. There are only so many classes you can take at a time. There is only so much one can do before they burn out and don’t have anything left to continue.

But in the end it is all going to be okay. It is okay to say no to someone or something. It is okay if you skip out on a night of studying to go out with your friends or spend a night binge watching your favorite shows on Netflix. We all need some kind of de-stressor from the academics of college life and society as a whole. Because if you don’t find ways to de-stress now as a college student, then when will you? When will you be able to learn how to handle all of the hard things that may occur throughout your lifetime?

The stress college puts on our generation is hard, but we will all get through it. We will all come out in the end (hopefully) with our heads held high, diploma in our hands and dreams in sight. Just hold on tight and don’t let the stress eat you alive. I know it is easier said than done, but I am hoping that you’ll all try it along with me.