Stressing and Still Optimistic

Stress

1. –Noun. Physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension

2. –Noun. The experience of a college student.

College students report more stress now than they have in the last quarter century. This finding is included in the 2010 Freshman Norms study of college students published by the University of California in Los Angeles. The scope of this study includes more than 200,000 freshmen from 279 four-year colleges and universities.

Explanations of the causes of the increasing stress levels are less than clear. Certainly, adaptation to collegiate life is stressful. Students making the transition to college direct from high school must navigate the demands of a new institution—some are more than prepared and others are under-prepared. In addition, universities like The University of Memphis are home to a significant population of students who have been away from the classroom and are re-adjusting to the academy while at the same time bringing a wealth of life experiences to the learning spaces. Regardless of the educational backgrounds of the students, with the transition to the university come changes in expectations and workloads in the classroom. Yet, this reality has not changed.

What has changed? Some hypotheses noted by researchers connected to the report include the troubled economy or the inclusion of more students with mental illnesses on campuses because of expanded services through offices for students with disabilities. I would suggest that given the increasing necessity of a college degree for success in the workforce, more students are attending school. However, they are not necessarily leaving other commitments behind; more often than not, they cannot afford to do so. In fact, on a regular basis, I see how much more complex students’ lives are than mine was when I attended The University of Memphis a decade ago. Students must balance classroom life with real life as they work and care for their families.

Can you identify? What contributes to your stress? How do you manage your stress levels? Do we want it all, but cannot handle it all?

Despite this rather stressful news, students also report being more driven and confident in their abilities. Furthermore, the overwhelming majority of the students surveyed are satisfied with their experiences on college campuses and are optimistic that their degrees will result in higher incomes in the future.

Personally, I am optimistic about your futures though not because I envision all of you as millionaires. Instead, I am optimistic because you have incredible gifts to share. Still, I want you to have lives that are balanced. I am in no position to judge the other responsibilities that may keep you from performing at your optimal levels in this course or your other courses. However, I am in a position to set high and clear expectations, to support you, and to encourage you to make choices that keep your stress levels low and your optimism levels high.