Education is a Learning Experience

            Many factors play into the amount of stress a student in college may endure, as mentioned in class when discussing education. Endless hours of studying, extensive days filled with back to back classes, lack of sleep, procrastination, and various other aspects can alter a student’s overall well-being. A student does not have to be stressed from school work alone either, but other facets such as organizations and sports that can enhance stress as well. If involved in other activities, it is important that a student utilizes time management effectively and prioritizes efficiently. Also, other activities take away focus from school work, thus effecting the student’s grades and overall motive for coming to college, which, in case we have all forgotten, is to receive a degree.

If a student is stressed from a class, or amount of work needed to be completed, he/she may suffer from anxiety. Also, if a student is overwhelmed it may be an obstacle for a good night’s sleep, or adequate diet, which is essential for college students and their bodies. Sometimes too much stress can build up and cause a student to give up, because he/she feels as if there is no hope to completing all work expected from them. College students are easily effected by stress.

Personally, I never really understood what real stress was until I came to college. Constantly worrying about assignments, exams, when you're going to have time to study, and other factors such as money, time, hobbies, and friends. It is much easier than you would think to lose sight of the true reason you are here, trust me. Looking back, I could have applied myself so much more to classes and studying than I did. But instead, I chose to spend time with my friends and go out. My grades reflected those decisions. In fact, I'm surprised my GPA ended up being as high as it was, which isn't saying much, with the effort I put into schoolwork.

Freshman year is a learning experience. You are going to make mistakes, you are going to fail, you are going to learn, you are going to face new challenges, you are going to find yourself, and most importantly you are going to look back and wish you had done particular things differently. But it's all part of the experience. Learn to handle stress effectively, and don't let school overwhelm you. You are here for an education, but you are also here to make memories with those around you.

http://www.counseling.ufl.edu/cwc/stress-and-college-students.aspx
https://www.uic.edu/depts/wellctr/docs/Stress%20and%20the%20College%20Student.pdf