DE-STRESSING STRESS

By Dr. Fran Harris

Preparing for college can be a stressful endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, stress, in and of itself, isn’t necessarily negative. Many good things happen as the result of stress. Coal doesn’t become a diamond without extreme pressure. An athlete doesn’t become a superstar without performing under adverse, real-time stress. So, stress can lead all of us to miraculous endings. It’s really all about how we handle the stress.

The key to de-stressing any situation is preparation, plain and simple. Preparation doesn’t mean that you’re always aware of how stress will show up in your life—no one can predict an unexpected event. That’s why it’s critical to equip yourself with tools and resources beforehand.

Here are some of the typical stressors facing college students and a few simple, time-tested strategies and techniques. 

Why Am I Here?

Deciding on a college should be a fun time, but it won’t be fun if you’re trying to fit into a university that your parents, teachers and friends chose for you. Think about it. Who’s got to get up for that 8 a.m. class? Who has to endure that boring history professor for 90 minutes two times a week? Who has to cram for final exams and pray that it’s graded on a curve? You. So, you should think only of you when it comes time to decide where you’re going to spend the next four (or 10) years. It doesn’t matter if every person in your family has attended State University; that still won’t make it the ideal place for you.

What You Can Do: Ask yourself why you’re at the college you chose. Is it for you or someone else? It takes courage to stand on your own two feet, yet it’s one of the fastest ways to relieve yourself of stress. If you find yourself on a campus because of anything other than because it’s where you want to be, consider making a switch.

Size Does Matter

The key to not getting overwhelmed by the potentially sudden increase in class size at college is to create a small subset of your large classroom early in the semester. In other words, if your biology class is 200 students strong, immediately start to develop relationships with about 10-20 students with whom you can start studying. Announce that you’re forming a study group on the first day of class and stick to it. Another strategy is to make the effort to get to know your teacher and his or her assistant.

What You Can Do: Commit to meeting with your professor or the assistant at least once a week for the entire term, even if it’s only for five minutes. This demonstrates initiative and it’s a sure-fire way to stay on top of assignments and your grade.

Which Major Is My Major?

Believe it or not, unless you’re going into a highly specific industry, your major will not matter. That isn’t a popular sentiment, but it is nevertheless true. College teaches you how to study, memorize information and pass a test. Those skills, while not completely useless in the real world, are only the beginning of what it takes to be successful after graduation. The most important thing to consider when you choose a major is to choose a subject in which you are highly interested. Choose a major that excites, intrigues and challenges you.

What You Can Do: Make an appointment to see an advisor to discuss your major options. It’s never too late to change your major and start to study subjects that are nearer to your heart. If you decide not to change your major, at least consider taking electives that will keep you excited about being in college. Four (or more) years is a long time to be uninspired.

Disappointing Parents

Yes, they’re probably paying for your tuition and car, but at the end of the day your parents should not dictate your college experience. Ask 10 students what they fear most while in college and at least six of them are likely to reply, “disappointing my parents.” We’re all conditioned to seek the approval of our parents, yet at some point, you will have to cut the umbilical cord and forget about what your parents think. College is a good time to start this transition. You’re transitioning into adulthood and “approval seeking” is not a character asset in the real world—it’s a liability. Respect your parents’ opinion, yes. Allow them to completely dictate your life for the next four years? No way.

What You Can Do: Talk to your parents openly about how you feel. Explain that you want to truly maximize this important time in your life. Ask them to respect your journey and the fact that you may want something different for your life than what they want for you. Most parents can respect this.

Time Management

Some students are great at balancing their time in high school when things are fairly straightforward even for the busiest student. In high school, you go to school for the same number of hours each week and you see the same students and teachers every day. If you miss an assignment the teacher might let you slide. In college, it’s a whole different ball game. College curriculum is more demanding, and there are many more social, physical and psychological distractions, plus, no one reminds you that you have a paper due in three weeks. And if you miss too many classes, you’ll find it difficult to pass the class and you might even get dismissed.

What You Can Do: Put important dates on a calendar the moment you get them. Include milestone markers on your calendar to alert you that you have an upcoming deadline. Read ahead. Even if you’re not supposed to have chapters three to five until next month, work on the project along the way. Being the king or queen of “last minute” doesn’t work so well in college.

In the end, college should be one of the most exciting times of your life. You’re meeting new people, finding out who you are and getting exposed to new levels of social, political and educational consciousness, so seize the moment and enjoy the ride.

Dr. Fran Harris holds a Master’s of Arts in Journalism from The University of Texas at Austin and is completing her dissertation for a Ph.D. in business administration. She's traveled to over 30 countries, played professional basketball in Italy and Switzerland and played for the Houston Comets, a WNBA Championship team.