Life During College And After College

In college, students experience various changes, whether that be physically or socially. Students leave their comfort zone, like family and friends and even their hometown, and are

According to Lupien, McEwan, Gunnar, and Heim (2009), going off to college involves significant adjustments to their daily routines; sleeping and eating habits, time-management skills, and stress levels will be altered in one way or another. First-year students have to adjust to the new school environment, different social settings, and new schedules, all without the help and guidance from their parents, who have been there for them for eighteen years. Over 30% of college freshman report that they feel overwhelmed (Klainberg, Ewing, & Ryan, 2010), where some students even opt to work as they juggle their class and work schedules. Some students work at a job or study harder than others, but they are all trying to get degrees so maybe one day they will have meaningful and significant lives. It is a constant struggle for everyone who is trying desperately to make him or herself into a success. And every college student wants to be involved in society in a positive manner, allowing contribution of their ideals and values to others.

College pressures dominate our lives. They begin to levitate around us and slowly derail our lives. William Zinsser elaborates about the college pressures that modern generations are facing. He reveals multiple commonalities that the typical college student encounters on a daily basis. Zinsser states, “They want a map-right now-that they can follow unswervingly to career security, financial security, social security, and presumably, a prepaid grave” (12). He is spot on, the pressures demand my attention and won’t take no for an answer. So far I’ve gone head to head with these pressures every day since I started my freshman year in college. For the time that I’ve been here, my mind is overwhelmed and distraught with the amount of stress that gets piled on top of me every single day. I drown in these unrealistic expectations written in those faulty suggestion bars about how to be successful in college and college 101 tips. College pressures surround me like a dull gray cloud. It showers me with expectations and unfinished checklists. College itself is similar to carpooling to hell and back, but with no actual guarantee with a ride back.

The transition from high school to college is a dynamic time in one’s life that parallels the change from childhood to adulthood. Both of these changes are dramatic and, as a result, feelings are difficult to put down into words. A messy combination of emotions fills the heart, surfacing in strange ways. Confident high school seniors go right back to the bottom of the chain when entering college as freshmen. These students start all over, just like entering grade school or high school for the first time. The move up from high school to college signals the switch from dependence to self-sufficiency. From a personal point of view, going through the experience of graduating high school and transferring to a residential college campus at STLCOP, made me realize I was no longer a kid and capable of making my own decisions.

The College Board is a non-profit organization composed of more than 5,900 schools, colleges, universities and other educational programs. College Board provides widely-known resources, tools and services to students, parents, and colleges on topics such as college prep, admissions, and financial aid. How College Shapes Lives is based off information found in the report, Education Pays 2013: The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society. This report is an in-depth database describing the difference in earnings, lifestyles, and behavior patterns that correlate to a person’s higher education level. How College Shapes Lives further examines how an individual can benefit from higher education and how society as a whole benefits from it. How College Shapes Lives was written by Sandy Baum, Charles Kurose and Jennifer Ma.

The transition from high school to college is a notoriously daunting experience for students entering, arguably, the most important years in their lives. Everything that a student has come to know about academics, for the most part, are to be radically challenged. Many different factors go into the change, and any particular one can be enough to overwhelm any given student into becoming an emotional wreck. Whether it be living on one's own for the first time, drastic schedule changes, or becoming socially involved, these responsibilities are just three examples, among the seeming hundreds. However, a perfect balance between these responsibilities is a major key in not allowing the stressors to take one captive.

College is a new and exciting time in a student’s life. Students are finally able to live by their own rules, follow their passions, and discover who they are. College is the beginning of the end. An end to relying on your parents, an end to schooling, as well as an end to life as a child. Many students see college as a new world for them to explore. However, college can also cause extreme amounts of stress and depression. I know from personal experience, that the anxiety from the financial issues alone can be overwhelming. Students are required to pay for room and board, food, tuition, books and daily expenses such as gas, toothpaste, and school supplies. Though there are many programs and scholarships available for students, finances are usually very tight for three reasons.

Introduction Entering college can be an overwhelming experience. For some entering college, the greatest fear is fear of the unknown. For others, the thought of adjusting to a world where you are forced to be an adult can be a terrifying reality. During this time, students adjust to balancing the demands of life while striving to find their place in the world. With this comes the prospect of both gains and losses.

These are just a few things that college kids deal with on a daily basis. College campuses have become more aware of the stress levels that students go through, and have made accommodations that are available for all students.

College campuses are swarming with “new adults”, most of whom are still in their teens and are often living on their own for the very first time. They are learning how to make decisions for themselves and are figuring out who they want to become. College is designed to help them in this process. It allows them to mature and grow through experiences and trial and error. High stress, threat to one’s previous identity through failures, and

The stereotypical American college student goes out partying all the time and stays up all night finishing an assignment or studying for a test. This stereotype may be accurate, but it is detrimental to our higher education culture. Hearing kids around me say “I’m so stressed for college. I’m never going to get any sleep when I go,” is heartbreaking. The pursuit of knowledge is a long and tiring journey, but it would be much more enjoyable if it didn’t come with a side of extreme stress and constantly-lowering mental health.

So much in life depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things, and respond to others makes all the difference. Sometimes we fail; sometimes we succeed. But whatever happens, we know we must keep learning from our decisions. Do not feel fear to fail or choose your own decisions in life. Inasmuch as, if one day I fall, I will get up, and keep trying until I reach my goal. I refused to give up until I succeed. For example, I decided to make a change for once in my life. I wanted to continue my education, so I decided to attend college. Going to college has affected my life in appositive ways, such as building my concentration, participating in classes, and working in a group.

Time is a powerful thing when it comes to the development of a student. Looking back to my freshman year, I can easily say that my wish to obtaining a college education has changed significantly. The idea of finally having freedom, getting to sleep in, and practically doing what I want without someone always looking over my shoulder is what I looked forward to. However, nobody told me about the sacrifices a college student makes on a daily. From learning to time manage and dealing with sleep deprivation, to the constant panic and anxiety that comes from the stress of being away from home, this is nothing like what I envisioned. Nevertheless, these struggles have only opened my eyes to what this world is really like. A college education is more than studying for exams and completing bookwork, it is a test of a student’s mental strength.

Having had various traumatic incidents in the past ten years, one of which was my parents passing six years ago, within eighteen months of each other, I have finally decided to take my life back. College is the first of many steps.

Going to college is an exciting and wonderful time. Not only does it teach us many things but there it has a lot to offer. Going to college is a very different experience and the challenges that go with being a college student can affect you. College is a huge step in life and many say that college will either make or break you. I believe this statement because college isn’t something that isn’t taken lightly, this is very serious and crucial to your future and education. While there may be fun adventures to college, there may also be hardships to come along the way. College affects you in three ways: emotionally, financially, and there are many benefits to being in college that will also affect your life.