Dear College, Our Mental Health is Important— Yes, Probably MORE Important Than You
Start writing a post
Education

Dear College, Our Mental Health is Important— Yes, Probably MORE Important Than You

The beauty of going to college is getting that full experience right?

313
Dear College, Our Mental Health is Important— Yes, Probably MORE Important Than You
The CW

Coming to college I already knew that it was not going to be all fun and games. I knew that I would be losing sleep, stressing out everyday, and probably grow white hairs. Is that really something we should see as normal? It's okay for me to suffer from sleep deprivation and go about my day looking like a zombie, right?

I do not remember the last time I had a full night sleep during the school year because my professors believe their class is the only class I am taking. College students can guarantee you that no one is ever "fine," instead they are "going through it." Every week professors assign essays, readings to annotate, and exams to prepare, but never consider that we as college students do not have that much time to finish all of those assignments. So what do we do? We pull all nighters, drink Redbull at 3 o'clock in the morning, skip meals to pass a class and still get up in the morning to attend class and even go to work. College focuses more on the work itself rather than students.

Who remembers thinking they were on top of their game, but the next day in class the professor assigns a lifetime of work?

This is the type of cycle that cause detrimental effects to students' mental health. I remember my freshman year of college as a Biology major I had weekly quizzes, four chapters to read every night, on top of other assigned essays. How do you think that went? Awful. Just plain awful. By the time November hit, I reached a new level of stress that almost made me want to cry everyday. Literally. My stress caused me be in a bad mood all the time and doubt my purpose of going to school. This was my experience, and I am certain that everyone with their own experience can relate on a similar level.

Let's not forget students who are working and studying at the same time. Why do they work?

Because college is EXPENSIVE.

There are students who are part-time and working full time or full-time students working full-time. As nice as it is to earn skills in a job and earn money, students unfortunately have so many expenses such as insurance, bills, food, rent, books, clothes, and most importantly tuition. Colleges are so expensive that not enough financial aid is given to students unless you're an athlete or a genius. Not to mention that college tuition raises every single year. UNBELIEVABLE.

I do not hate college if that's what you think by reading this article. Of course not, having an education is a privilege and a blessing to have and I love learning new things everyday. But the expectations college institutions set for students are extremely high and do not take into consideration of their mental health.

We talk about the importance of mental health on social media everyday, but never take action. According to the American Psychological Association, ninety-five percent of students of college counseling has mentioned a significant increase in the number of students with psychological problems. The survey reported that 41.6% of students have anxiety, 36.4% suffer from depression, 35.8% struggle with personal relationships. College students have barely even lived their life to go through this. Our parents say "that's how life is and it is hard," but does it have to be so hard to the point where we might end up hospitalized? No.

Going to college means having a love/hate relationship. It means to be grateful for going to school and feeling proud of all the hard work paying off. But it also means that to be successful means to work EXTRA hard and that comes with losing sleep, looking like a zombie on a daily basis, and having multiple mental breakdowns. I am not saying to give up, but if you know college does not care about you, then take care of yourself.

Breathe.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

71436
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

133480
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments