Academics

Student Perspective of Stress

Kimberly Alt

My name is Kim Alt and I am a sophomore advertising/marketing communications major, holding a 3.7 GPA. Behind all the numbers and titles, I am just a regular student trying to make it through all of life’s challenges. When I hear people talk about stress it is used in a context of the moment, or referred as a short time duration. Webster’s dictionary defines stress as: “a state resulting from a stress; esp: one of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium.” In other words, stress is something that is not constant, yet something that causes temporary tension.

For me, however, stress has become a constant companion. Like many college students, I am faced with the challenge of balancing many responsibilities. Currently I take 16 credit hours of classes, work more than 40 hours a week between two jobs, plus do homework- sometimes balancing these responsibilities is more than just stress, it’s overwhelming.

I find some days I cannot keep my eyes open, and I struggle all day to stay alert enough to take notes. Hopefully I can read the scribbles when it comes time to study. When people ask me what I do for fun, I say sleep. Of course I say this with a smile and a chuckle, but, honestly, sleep is a privilege of which I need more. I am not complaining too much about this stress because this is the life I have to live as a college student.

For some people, living this way seems impossible and crazy. It might seem that way sometimes, but I learned with the right management of time, you can accomplish a great deal.

If there was only one class I could take as an elective, it would be on time management. You can reduce overwhelming stress by simply planning for future events. I guess that’s why we get those free spiffy Webster planners! I wouldn’t be able to juggle my kind of schedule if I didn’t prioritize and organize. Everyone is sure to experience some form of stress in their life, the ways in which one copes with stress can make life much less stressful.