Hold back the tears. I've been telling myself this since the first week of the semester and yet the stress seems inevitable. However, I have come to realize I am far from alone in this respect. Just in the last week I have witnessed the intensifying stress surrounding students, whether it was my friend feeling assured he had aced an exam before finding out he received a C, a classmate commenting about her steadily declining GPA, or a stranger on the street crying to her mother on her cell phone because her professor disliked her presentation. Some would say these incidents are a symptom of midterm anxiety or lack of effort, but on the contrary, it appears even whole-hearted exertion and perfection will only earn the average grade.
It seems silly that a bunch of young, driven adults would become so overwhelmed at the sight of a low grade or even a low GPA, but it turns out these feelings are anything but a laughing matter. In fact, a recent report found that stress related depression and suicide attempts among college students have tripled to their highest levels in 16 years. I am personally not contemplating any drastic measures like suicide, but I do find myself sinking into the depths of despair and hopelessness as midterm exams approach. After all, test anxiety is often coupled with unforgiving grading curves, sleep deprivation, moments of pure insanity and a grade which inevitably falls short of expectations.
The problem with grades is that they determine so much more than a day's happiness-they directly affect one's GPA. Within the next month I will be applying for the ever-competitive School of Journalism where a high GPA serves as more of a necessity than a bonus for the hundreds of applicants each semester. It is no wonder that more than 30 percent of university students say they are overwhelmed a great deal of the time, not just occasionally, because seldom can a bad grade be easily brushed aside or erased.
In addition to the more obvious struggles inherent in student life, there exists a multitude of lesser known hazards to busy students such as cultural pressure, social restrictions and health. The Campaign for American Mental Health has noted such dangers, including unhealthy eating and exercise habits, which are steadily rising in young adults. Eating disorders, obesity and susceptibility to illness are commonly ignored by the average college student who believes maintaining good grades is more important and more or less comparable to one's health.
As we all struggle to survive the college atmosphere defined by strict expectations and occasional failure, I encourage everyone to make time for the more important things in life. We have all been given the opportunity to define ourselves as independent adults, a consideration that must be weighed as heavily as academic achievement. And although we can't just give up or abandon our futures, we must keep in mind that these years are often described as the best of our lives. I can't speak for the entire student body, but I'd certainly like to look back and agree.
