In college, the struggle with mental health is unsurprisingly very common. Mental illness is now quite normalized among college students and even more worrying is the fact that many students develop these issues as a result of their college experience. When I entered college, I had already been dealing with diagnosed depression, anxiety, and ADHD. A silver lining you could say is that I developed some of the skills and tools necessary to manage my well-being long beforehand. While college is an incredibly rewarding experience, it would be imprudent to sugarcoat it. The journey through higher education is permeated with anxiety, stress, and the relentless pressure to measure up to an idealized version of success. A common struggle I see in others is how to navigate these internal challenges and find healthy ways to manage them.
Unlike high school where you have a constant support system, it is largely incumbent upon you as a student to find help. This readjustment was hard for me at first. There have been many times within the past year when I struggled with my mental health causing me to lose motivation. I felt immense pressure early on and was unsure if I had it in me to succeed. I felt that I had to prioritize my schoolwork before my mental health. Even though I had many people outside of school who supported me, I still felt alone. I became consumed by my negative thoughts. I soon realized that if I were to succeed, I needed to make positive changes in my life.
Finding support from my peers helped me tremendously. For myself and many students, making friends can be hard. I didn’t know how to talk to people and always felt like I was being judged. Like other people who have anxiety, I tend to be very self-critical of myself. However, I remembered a piece of advice my mom told me once: everyone is more worried about themselves than they are about you. That couldn’t be more true in college. I needed to be more present in my work rather than focusing on the hypothetical situations and criticisms I was making up in my head. I slowly encouraged myself to be more active in class discussions, lead team projects, and participate in extracurricular activities. Soon, talking to other students became more natural. The acquaintances I made in class turned into friendships that outlasted the semester. I had more in common with my peers than I previously thought, our shared experiences becoming the bridge that connected us.
Success in college is not a solitary pursuit. I encourage new students to find one collaborative opportunity on campus that they can actively dedicate their time to. This can be participating in a club that explores something you’re interested in or simply a low-stakes elective class that you join for fun. Furthermore, managing your mental health starts with supporting yourself. Set a daily schedule and immerse yourself in places that you enjoy. For me, this meant completing homework in the library every day after class. The familiarity and quiet environment helped me to adjust to campus life better. Ultimately, building a support system in college is dependent on you as an individual. It doesn’t have to be in the traditional sense where you see an on-campus therapist or access other support services. I found support through doing the things I like most. For some, this will come naturally, and for others, it will take time, but the best thing you can do for yourself is have faith in the journey ahead.
College is a complex journey that is unique to each individual. Yet, down to its core, college is ultimately a lesson of resilience – the ability to adapt, learn, and grow. Through my experiences, I’ve discovered the power my mindset can have on my success as a student. Early on in my freshman year, I encountered situations that challenged the preconceived notions I had about myself. As a result, I was immediately self-critical. However, after some reflection and growing pain, I learned to embrace failure as a catalyst for growth. If I were to keep focusing on the negative thoughts I had about myself, I would have given up on my college career early on. If I had not persisted, I would not have had access to the opportunities I have now nor would I have accomplished any of my goals. I now understand that these moments are not reflections of my worth or capabilities, but instead integral parts of the learning process. Often I remind myself that success is never linear, but an adaptive process. Managing my mental health and developing these tools for success has become a meaningful aspect of my growth as a college student.
