Author: Julia Aldrich

Questions to Ask if You’re Changing Majors

Posted on April 26, 2017 by Julia Aldrich

The spring semester will be coming to a close sooner than we know it. As finals loom and end of term projects are assigned, many students will begin to wonder if they’re pursuing the wrong dream. If you’re finding your core classes totally useless or experiencing utter success in other subjects, you might be considering whether changing majors is worthwhile. You’re not alone! Upwards of 75% of undergraduates change their major at least once between the time of enrollment and graduation. Before you do anything official, here are some questions to consider before changing majors next fall.

Will I graduate on time?

This definitely varies between students. If you’re changing majors going into your senior year, then you’ll likely have to delay graduation. If you’re a first or second year student, then chances are you’ll be fine. Should changing your major result in more years of undergraduate schooling, consider taking on a preferred subject as a minor. This compromise allows you to enroll in courses that interest you without the burden of completing as many credits. However, do not make any changes without scheduling an appointment with your advisor. They are your most important tool in deciding if changing majors is the best move.

Does my major have to reflect what I want to do in life?

No, not necessarily! Although some undergraduate professional programs are designed to prepare you for a certain career, i.e. engineering programs, most majors aren’t great predictors of what you’re going to do in life. In fact, studies show that only about 27% of college graduates are in a career directly related to their major. Therefore, your major doesn’t lock you into a certain career path. Regardless, earning a college degree is an investment in your future, so invest wisely.

But what if I want a career in something totally different? Will employers consider me?

Again, so many graduates have jobs in fields unrelated to their majors. Acquiring experience in the field you want to work in, along with taking related classes, will give you a foot in the door. For example, if you’re an English literature major but aspire to be a business analyst, take classes related to analytics or even consider minoring in it. Additionally, internships are a great way to gain experience in your desired field. By interning, you’ll also interact with professionals who can later serve as excellent contacts for networking. Having experience in your desired career field and a professional network to leverage will create more opportunities than majoring in particular subject.

Is it okay to change majors because my current one is too hard?

Yes! It’s not a shameful thing to change your major if you’re struggling in your current one. Our success is dependent on so many factors including our passions and general personalities. Just because we’re struggling with something doesn’t make us incompetent or a failure. Additionally, changing majors does not mean you’re giving up. It actually means quite the opposite. It means you’re smart enough to identify areas you excel and struggle in. You’re also brave enough to make a choice that will ultimately make you happier and more successful. Though it can be scary, change often brings opportunity.

What if my parents get mad?

We all have to understand that our parents simply want what they believe is best for us. They want to see us succeed, avoiding the struggles they faced and realizing opportunities they never had. However, parents don’t always know what’s best for us. When talking to your parents about your decision to change majors, tell them all of the reasons why you’re making the decision. Explain why these reasons will be ultimately beneficial. Be honest and be understanding, even if they’re angry. Change is scary for everyone. In the end, it’s your life and your happiness. You will be the one living it each day.

When deciding whether or not to change majors, consider some of the questions listed above and then decide the right course of action. First and foremost, before making any major (pun intended) decisions, consult your advisor and other people who are connected with that field of study. Email professors and other students to make sure you have a good understanding of what to expect. But don’t let it stress you out too much! You can always change it again. Good luck!

LinkedIn Tips for College Students

Posted on April 11, 2017 by Julia Aldrich

As a college student, it’s never too early to construct a resume. Starting early gives student the chance to constantly make sure everything is grammatically correct and up to date. However, in the digital world employers and programs look at much more than resumes to review potential candidates. One of the largest growing networks today is LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a social media service for professionals and is one of the key tools for career networking and employment. As of 2016, LinkedIn holds over 467 million users, 40 million of which are college students or recent college grads. If you’ve decided to create a LinkedIn, it’s important to understand how utilizing the platform affects your success rate. Here are a few LinkedIn Tips for college students.

Profile Photographs

One of the most essential aspects of a good LinkedIn profile is the photo. Like other social media sites, i.e. Facebook, having an appropriate photo helps the viewer connect with you and legitimizes your account. Because of the various spammers and scammers lurking on the internet, it’s likely that other users, recruiters, and companies may feel weary about “connecting” with a user who doesn’t have a photograph. The key to a good LinkedIn photo is a clear headshot only featuring you. It doesn’t need to be a professionally taken photo, but looking clean and wearing a nice top is a must. Also, make sure to smile! Employers are looking for enthusiastic people.

List Your Skills

LinkedIn allows its members to easily list their skills in their profile. Additionally, LinkedIn allows you to put your skills in a specific order and lists the top three “featured skills” on your profile. The remaining skills are visible by clicking the “view more” button. Therefore, it is extremely important to think through which three skills best represent you. By entering your skills, you allow employers to get a good understanding of what you’re capable of doing. LinkedIn also allows its users to obtain “endorsements” on their listed skills. Past employers and other members can verify you’re proficient in your these skills based on who and how many people endorse you. But of course, be careful who you ask!

Expand Your Network

With LinkedIn’s huge member database, learning how to grow a strong and cohesive network of connections is one of the most important LinkedIn factors for college students. Like other social media networks, LinkedIn allows you to “connect” with people. These people could be classmates, coworkers, friends, whoever! In addition, college students have the special benefit of connecting with alumni. If you’re applying for a position, check LinkedIn to see if anyone who graduated from your school works there. Use this angle to connect and ask for advice and recommendations- not jobs. Like any other social engagement, make sure you’re not obtrusive.

Post Articles

Similar to Facebook, LinkedIn users have the opportunity to share articles or write their own and post them on their profile. Sharing and writing articles is another one of the best practices on LinkedIn for college students. Articles can be blog posts, recent news in your field, and generally interesting things. Not only does this provide employers and recruiters with more information about you, but it also helps give them a sense of who you are. However, be very, very careful to only post relevant and appropriate content to avoid offending and upsetting anyone. A general rule of thumb is to avoid politics and overly opinionated pieces.

LinkedIn is one of many social media platforms that currently has millions of active users. With so many social platforms bidding for your time, it may seem unnecessary to join. However, LinkedIn isn’t about sharing your favorite family photos or mistakes you made last weekend. It’s focused on the professional job market and connecting with current or potential employers to build a strong professional network. Use these LinkedIn tips to create a high performing account for success during and after college!

Celebrate Warmer Weather With A Spring Playlist

Posted on March 23, 2017 by Julia Aldrich

Winter is finally over! That means warmer weather, more daylight, and finally retiring your parka. As spring begins to make a stronger appearance, you’ll need to update your music playlists to match the mood. It’s time for a spring playlist. Luckily, super talented artists like Lorde, Sampha, and Calvin Harris have you covered. For those who are looking for freshly picked tunes to bump during the rest of the spring semester, look no further. Here’s a specially curated playlist that’s perfect for any student trying to celebrate the arrival of spring.

Knetbooks Spring Student Playlist

Nightcrawler- ZHU
Green Light- Lorde
- For those who think of Lorde and envison darkness and saddness, you might be surprised with this pop-esque hit. It’s almost impossible not to dance along with the music. Even the New Zealand singer herself can’t stop in the music video.
Slide- Calvin Harris, Frank Ocean, Migos
- Calvin Harris, Frank Ocean, and Migos walk into a bar… and create an uber catchy song that cleverly combines Harris’s production with rap verses that are intrinsically Migos. Even more, the melodies can clearly be attributed to Frank Ocean. The song was already rated by Pitchfork as a best new track. You have to listen to believe it.
Too Late to Fixate- Conor Oberst
Third Day of May- Odaigahara- Fleet Foxes
Sweet- Little Dragon
Surreal- Louis Futon, RKCB
Total Entertainment Forever- Father John Misty
Darling- Real Estate
Blossom- Milky Chance
American Teen- Khalid
Die Young- Sylvan Esso
Chanel- Frank Ocean
Nothing, Not Nearly- Laura Marling
Selfish- Future, Rhianna
Show You the Way- Thundercat, Flying Lotus, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins
Chasing Colors- Marshmello, Ookay, Noah Cyrus
- Say hello to Noah, Miley Cyrus’s younger, but nonetheless super talented sister. Noah is stacking her resume up with hits, recently collaborating with Labrinth on the song Make Me (Cry).
Big Picture (THRDL!FE Remix)- London Grammar, THRDL!FE
My Emotions are Blinding- Tennis
It Ain’t Me- Kygo, Selena Gomez
- The hype leading up to this song was incredibly worth it. Kygo’s tropical beats supporting Gomez’s melodic voice produced an enchanting and heartbreaking song about loss and moving on. Listen, cry, dance.
Love Incredible- Cashmere Cat, Camila Cabello
Kinda Bonkers- Animal Collective
Basically- STRFKR
My Old Man- Mac Demarco
Falling- Alesso
When I Get There- Big Wild
Blood on Me- Sampha

Spring is here! Celebrate the end of the semester with this fun, energetic spring playlist that is sure to have you stepping to the beat. If you want to listen to these songs in order, click the link at the top of this list to hear it on Spotify. Not a fan of this genre of music? Let us know what you prefer to hear in the comments below!

Welcome, TRAPPIST-1

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Julia Aldrich

Photo via NASA.gov

Welcome, TRAPPIST-1!

TRAPPIST-1: The Discovery

One week ago, astronomers from NASA and Europe made a groundbreaking discovery. This discovery will forever alter the way that we view space and time.

Last Wednesday, NASA announced the discovery of seven Earth sized planets orbiting a dwarf star named TRAPPIST-1. The system of exoplanets is only 39.5 light years away. Given the vastness of the universe, this is a relatively short distance.

The TRAPPIST-1 discovery is historical because it’s the first known instance of a system of seven Earth sized planets revolving around a single star other than our very own system. The Spitzer Space Telescope, which is currently over 235 million kilometers away from Earth, discovered the planets. Because of the orientation of the planets and their star, scientists are able to effectively observe the characteristics of TRAPPIST-1.

Why it’s so exciting?

Again, this discovery is absolutely groundbreaking because it is the first of its kind. According to scientist, what’s particularly exciting about this finding is the planets have the potential to form and hold water. Even more exciting, this finding means they have the potential to host life!

The star that the seven planets orbit is a red dwarf, meaning it’s ‘ultracool’, or under 2,550 kelvin. This makes it significantly cooler than our own sun, which is about 5,778 kelvin. Because of the stars cool nature and the placement of the planets, the possibility of the closer planets retaining liquid water is strong.

The TRAPPIST-1 discovery is raising a lot of speculation and excitement about the possibility of life outside Earth.

Sara Seager, an astrophysicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, reported to the New York Times, “For the first time ever, we don’t have to speculate. We just have to wait and then make very careful observations and see what is in the atmospheres of the Trappist planets.”

Is there life outside of our planet? Only time will tell!

Now what?

This discovery opens the door to so many questions! Is there water? How could we tell if there is life? The possibilities are endless!

Currently, NASA reports that the geography of the planets is rocky. Scientists will continue to observe the exoplanets in order to deduce if liquid water actually exists on the planets.

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope will begin to screen at least four of the planets in order to determine the atmospheric composition of the planets and learn if they consist of hydrogen.

In 2018, NASA’s James Webb Telescope will further assist scientists in exploring the makeup of these planets. This telescope will have technology that can enable scientists to determine properties of the planets including the presence of water, methane, and oxygen!

Dear TRAPPIST-1, Earth welcomes you!

Unconventional Places to Spend Spring Break

Posted on February 24, 2017February 23, 2017 by Julia Aldrich

The oh-so-anticipated spring break is just a ways away. It’s time to start thinking of ways to spend the week long hiatus from classes. With popular culture and travel agencies promoting college ‘spring break’ as a week of wild partying on tropical beaches, which by all means does seem fun, it’s easy to forget about other options. The Earth provides us with thousands of miles of adventure, beauty, and landscape to explore. Use this spring break to discover nature and the beautiful scenery available to us. Here are four suggestions of where to look:

1) Lake Powell, Arizona/Utah

Lake Powell is located right on the border of Utah and Arizona, settled right on the Colorado River. This scenic area is colored by blue lakes broken and broken up by high rocky canyons. It is also only a short distance from Antelope Canyon and Glen Canyon Recreational Area. However, around spring break time the weather is still fairly cool, averaging around 61 degrees. This means swimming may not be an option. Luckily, the chilly temps make it the area’s offseason, meaning the prices for travel drop. This makes it perfect for college students on a tight budget. Additionally, the city of Flagstaff is a two hour drive away and passes Grand Canyon National Park. Make sure that road trip playlist is on point!

2) Joshua Tree National Park, California

Joshua Tree National Park is a desert landscape teeming with wildlife of all sorts, surrounded by mountains that seemed to have popped up from the dusty ground by magic. The park is the ultimate dream destination for many travelers. The area houses multiple campgrounds and affordable vacation rentals. If you’re a Jack Kerouac junkie, the Jack Kerouac Cabin is located along the northern end of the park. Joshua Tree is also less than three hours away from both San Diego and Los Angeles, California… in case you’re also in need of some beach time.

3) Canmore, Alberta, Canada

There are the Rockies, and then there are the Canadian Rockies. Located in the Canadian province of Alberta, Canmore is the destination for nature lovers. Nestled right beside Banff National Park, the area houses opportunities to hike, ski, and simply explore. For those still holding onto the the cold elements that make winter activities possible, this is the place for you. In between March and April, during most spring breaks, Canmore’s weather is still brisk. Unfortunately, this does make camping more difficult. Instead, check out the prices of lodges and ski resorts as they often fall that late in the season. Hot tub after the slopes, anyone?

4) New Orleans, Louisiana

A city of culture and liveliness, New Orleans is the perfect spring break destination for those wishing to both enrich themselves and have some fun. While it isn’t the most unconventional place to spend spring break, it’s still worth every consideration. This melting pot of a city is home to around the clock entertainment, flavorful dishes, and amazing architecture. With a variety of festivals popping up constantly, popping up constantly, New Orleans always has something to fun to do. Check out the famous Bourbon Street for some of the best jazz music the United States has to offer, or dare to walk through the infamously haunted French Quarter.

Spring break doesn’t have to be a party in Cancun. While that might seem fun, consider using this free week to travel to some unforgettable places. By the way, feel free to invite me!

Five Ways to Make this Valentine’s Day “Memorable”

Posted on February 10, 2017 by Julia Aldrich

If you’re a young college student in a relationship, you’re probably feeling quite anxious about the impending doom or success of the upcoming day of love. Valentine’s day is a day dedicated to you and your lover. It’s also a day that if messed up, can take a toll on your relationship. Since everyone knows that college is basically a matchmaking service for us to find our future wives and husbands, Valentine’s day should not be taken lightly. Unfortunately, many of us are plain broke. As a senior, I’ve witnessed all the tricks to a successful February 14th at a reduced cost. Here are some light-hearted ideas!

1) Go on a riveting adventure!

Does dinner and a movie seem cliche? That’s because it is! This Valentine’s Day, opt for something more adventurous! An inexpensive idea might be to go hiking in areas that are notorious for bears and mountain lions. This ideas might seem dangerous and impractical, but that’s because it is! The plus side to the danger is the fear and anxiety. Studies show these emotions are thought to increase levels of attraction! Therefore, it’s only logical that the more scary the activity, the closer you two will feel.

2) Make them a DIY gift

Nothing is more romantic than a gift made by the hands of your true love! Of course, anyone could make a boring card or a scrapbook. My suggestion: because you love them, dig a little deeper this Valentine’s Day! Try making a photo-book of the two of you! However, to make it special find photos of your significant other and their family. Then cut out and paste your face into them! It’s a perfect subtle way to tell them that you want to be a part of their family. It works every time, trust me!

3) Let them know that you take this relationship seriously

Valentine’s Day is a day for romance. Also, it’s the perfect day to let your s/o know that you take your relationship seriously. Perhaps even to serious. The best way to portray this is to let them know that you want them forever. My suggestion is to get a gigantic tattoo of their name right above your heart. They’ll be speechless, I promise! Because like tattoos, young love lasts forever.

4) Buy your S/O a cute pet!

Anybody and everybody loves cute pets! Unfortunately, most college apartments and dorms don’t allow dogs and cats. Luckily, they do allow even cuter animals. This Valentine’s day, buy your boo a worm or a cricket! These creatures are not only small and easy to maintain, but they’re also inexpensive. Most pet stores sell them near the snakes section at an alarmingly cheap price. This plan is nearly foolproof for winning over the heart of your Valentine!

5) Make your love a special dinner

Who doesn’t love food? Food made by your true love is high ranking in terms of special. Unfortunately, either many of us don’t have a stove or have no clue how to cook. Luckily enough, regardless of your situation there is one recipe that we can all master: hard boiled eggs! If you have skills in the kitchen, great! You’re very special! If not, go to the nearest gas station as many sell hard boiled eggs at a low price. If you’re lucky, they’ll provide you with free delicacies such a ketchup, mustard, and salt! Your bae is going to #swoon.

Hopefully your Valentine’s day will be a smashing success! At the very least, I hope you’ve enjoyed a good laugh and feel less stressed as you think about ways to impress your young love.

Learning to Understand

Posted on January 17, 2017January 18, 2017 by Julia Aldrich

Knowledge is a trait that we aim to possess. This is exemplified merely by the fact that we’re students. We’re constantly taking in new information and either storing it in our memory to spit out later on exams or losing it in the process of daily living. However, though we might feel that knowledge is optimal, we often forget about the tool that allows us to access and utilize knowledge. The ability to understand, not just know, is incredibly powerful for living a worthwhile life. This year, I dare you to learn how to understand.

1) Understand Others

Part of human nature is having opinions. However, especially after the election, people tend to judge others who don’t share the same opinion. Although it’s hard sometimes, it’s so important to try to understand others as long as they’re not being hateful. That may be the exception. By understanding others, we become familiar with humanity. People have so much to offer. We fail ourselves when we limit our friendships and circles to only similar people. Through every interaction with another person, we become more wholesome.

2) Understand the World

Although travelling is ideal, the fact that some of us are busy and broke makes it hard to visit other lands. However, we have access to the internet, books, magazines etc. that are stacked with information. If you can’t hop on a flight to southeast Asia, search for a magazine that details the on-goings of Thailand. Home is great, but gaining an understanding of both culture and geography can bring out the best in us. This year, aim to learn more about the world around you.

3) Understand Art

Art is the least limited thing in the world. You can find art in anything. Yet, strangely enough, it’s so easy to look past. How often do we walk through a city and marvel at the architecture, or appreciate music that we don’t normally listen to? It’s quite easy to forget about the certain types of art that we don’t actively seek out, but it’s also problematic. By ignoring the art around us, or even not paying much attention to it, we lose touch with the hard work and passion that the creators put into it. Understanding how to appreciate art in all forms makes everything brighter.

4) Understand Yourself

The fact that we spend every living moment with ourselves seems like enough evidence to back that we probably have a good understanding of ourselves, right? Well, probably not. The ability to understand oneself strengthens with time and more importantly, with experience. If we limit ourselves to routine, then we limit learning about ourselves. Trying new things, going new places, and meeting new people opens up doors to self-understanding that we wouldn’t have found by staying within our comfort zone. Our personalities aren’t stagnant- by experiencing the world we experience ourselves.

This year, I hope that you can challenge yourself to understand. What are your thoughts? Leave them in the comments below.

How to Optimize Your Career This Winter Break

Posted on December 14, 2016December 12, 2016 by Julia Aldrich

There’s no better way to end the worst week of the year, finals week, than with a long break filled with no schoolwork. Unless your school offers a winter session and you’re taking courses, winter break is like no other. The combination of Christmas cookies, chilly winter days spent under the covers and a lack of homework provides the ultimate time to rejuvenate before busting your behind during spring semester. So yes, take advantage of being able to lay around and watch Netflix inconsequentially. However, these few weeks of nothingness can be your secret to success if you use them right. With the extra free time, work on things that you normally wouldn’t have time to during the semester. Here’s a few suggestions of what you could work on over break:

Learn New Programs

It’s officially the age of technology. With that comes an array of programs and applications that allow us to leverage our creative and intellectual ideas to new levels. Unfortunately, you can’t learn most of these programs overnight but winter break provides the free time to do so. Also, having a well working knowledge of certain programs can boost your resume. Learning programs like Photoshop and InDesign, for example, would be very helpful if you want to pursue a career in publishing or design. Moreso, the ability to maneuver these programs gives you more latitude to pursue more things in life. Luckily, since the programs are often pricey, most programs offer trial periods on their sites.

Work on Your Resume

Resumes are one of those things that always have room for improvement. In school, it’s easy to neglect your resume given how busy we always are. Winter break provides the necessary time sit down and cut and paste away at one of the most important tools for developing your career. Feeling lost? Email your adviser or, if your school provides one, a career counselor for any advice or tips. It’s their job to help students with these sorts of problems.

Find an Internship

It’s rather hard to create a resume if you don’t have much to put on it. Internships are a good place to start. Use winter break as a time to sort through internships that might suit you. Regardless of your career interest, there is likely an internship that would show you the ropes. An internship is not only a resume booster, but a tool that allows you to explore an option before diving right in. Some popular internship finding sites include Indeed, LinkedIn, and Internships.com. Additionally, some schools offer help with finding and landing an internship. Just email your adviser.

Start a Blog

Blogs are underestimated. If used properly, a blog can provide the foreground for self expression. Regardless of your passions or interests, blogging allows you to display your skills on an accessible platform. It can also give companies and employers an idea of who you are well before any interviews. Additionally, starting a personal blog is also a fun and informal way to boost your creative abilities. Whether you’re into plant biology, space exploration poetry, or contemporary art- your blog is waiting to be created and many would love to read it.

I hope these ideas to get ahead in your future career over winter break help you out! What internships are you interested in? What kind of blog would you love to start? Leave us a comment below!

Count Your Blessings During the Holidays

Posted on December 5, 2016 by Julia Aldrich

We’re finally there! The notorious American holiday stemming from the event when the Native Americans and pilgrims ceased fighting and met peacefully on the grounds of something everyone can relate to: overeating. Centuries later, we’re still celebrating with our loved ones. Thanksgiving is especially cherished by most college students as a time to finally relax, come home and see everyone that we’ve missed. Unfortunately, the holidays can come with an array of stressful situations. Annoying relatives? Assignments? Studying? We all have them. As college students, however, despite any qualms we might have, we should be thankful for our many blessings in disguise during the holidays.

“Those” Relatives

Annoying relatives? Yes, we all have them! Your uncle who drinks too much and makes everyone kind of uncomfortable? That one cousin who doesn’t stop bragging about their grades? Your aunt that scoffs at your nose ring? Oh, and every relative that asks you why you don’t have a boyfriend/girlfriend yet? Alright, perhaps you’re already annoyed just reading this and I apologize. But just as disdainful you might be of some of your relatives, at least find happiness in the fact that you have relatives at all. A lot of people don’t have any family to spend time with during the holidays. Some of them are intolerable, but most of them also love you. Take a few breaths every third Thursday in November to count your relatives as blessings.

Tough Professors

The semester is almost over and we’ve already picked out those professors that we swear are out to fail us. But even if they seem like the most evil people on earth, they are only trying to prepare us for the real world. On Thanksgiving, be thankful for these people. Understand how much hard work they put into the class; the grading, the teaching and even the learning. Also, be especially thankful for the fact that you have the privilege of being in classes at all. Think of all of those around the world who would happily enroll in a class with your most loathed professor.

Assignments/Projects

Similar to point number 2, we should all be grateful for our schoolwork. It exists to strengthen our knowledge and to help us succeed. Yes, it’s tedious, but it’s not pointless. And again, it is a privilege to even be able to do assignments and projects. During Thanksgiving Break, as you’re forcing yourself to open up your computers and work on assignments, realize how lucky you are. I know it’s hard. I’m working on several as I type this.

Gaining Weight

With the holidays comes the inevitability of putting on some extra weight. This feeling after stuffing our faces with pie and stuffing is surely unwanted by most. But as we struggle to fit in our jeans in the subsequent days, be thankful that we have enough food to even gain weight. There are millions around the world who struggle with poverty and hunger. Whether we like it or not, holiday weight gain is a luxury. Remember this as you put in some extra hours at the gym after the holidays!

Remember during this holiday season that you have a lot of blessings to be thankful for as a college student. You may not have all of the privileges listed above but even having a couple means you’re truly blessed. Have a comment to add about what you’re thankful for? Drop it below!

Dear College Students, It’s Okay to Seek Help

Posted on November 16, 2016November 11, 2016 by Julia Aldrich

Dear fellow college students,

Now is about the time when you’re all settled in your college courses. You are studying for exams and you’ve spent numerous hours completing assignments and doing homework. Ironically, as the days gradually grow shorter, our own days feel much longer. The stress of college, from our current social lives, to our grades, and to our looming futures, sometimes feels unbearable. Managing ourselves to be productive and successful individuals can strain us mentally and physically. As the semester goes forward, often times stress piles up and we feel exhausted and drained. Come finals, many people, myself included, have suffered immensely. This takes an extensive toll on anyone’s well-being. I’m here to tell you that you are never alone!

We’re primed and taught to persevere through tough times as students. All-nighters fueled by coffee and Redbull are considered the “norm”. We’re taught to put school before everything else, our own selves included. However, with this mindset of allowing ourselves to suffer for school’s sake, our mental health is at risk.

According to statistics from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, about 1 in 3 college students have suffered from depression and about 50% of college students rated their mental health as “poor”. These alarming statistics paint a terrifying portrait of the struggles that college students suffer every semester. College is supposed to be a positive experience to grow as intellectuals and as people, so why are we allowing ourselves to suffer?

Experiencing mental health deficits from overworking myself in school is something I have experienced and it has taught me one very important lesson: never think that you’re alone.

Many schools offer at least some form of counseling for their students at no extra cost. Although seeking help from a professional seems daunting, it can be really helpful. A trained counselor is likely well rehearsed in how to combat mental health issues brought on by school related stress. Therefore, through seeking help, a counselor can not only provide insight, but they can also validate your struggles.

Counseling isn’t the only way to seek help. Talking to a friend or a family member is really helpful as well. Having our feelings heard and having a support system reminds us that we’re not alone. Sometimes it’s difficult to talk about what we’re going through for many different reasons, like feeling like our struggles are trivial. Luckily, that’s what friends and family are for.

College is difficult, but it doesn’t have to take a toll on your well-being. On top of seeking help, make sure to take time to take care of yourself. Take breaks when you’re feeling overwhelmed, eat well and exercise regularly. Call your family and hang out with friends when you’re feeling sad. Whatever makes you happy- take time to do it. Yes, school is important, but your health and well being always should be top priority.

I cannot speak for everyone, but I can say that if you’re willing to seek help, it’s available in some form. Never brush your feelings off as insignificant and always, always keep hopeful!

Do you deal with these feelings brought on by the stress of school? How do you cope or seek help? Drop us a comment below.

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