Under Pressure & Overwhelmed
This past Wednesday Jacqueline Carambat wrote a great article in The Orion called Early semester stress sting students. Even if you've not read it, you probably already know what it is about. Between scheduling classes, studying, thinking about an upcoming internship or study abroad program, and doing your best to take time off from everything that's going on, college is a 24-7 commitment. But you are not alone in feeling stressed by student life.
Jacqueline's article reminded me of a book in the library collection called Under Pressure & Overwhelmed (Praeger, 2007). It examines the issues students face when going through college and includes both research and personal accounts from students. The book takes a psychological perspective and has a high level of scholarship, but for all that is still written in straightforward, understandable language. And (perhaps most importantly) it offers strategies for coping with the stress that can accompany student life. As the authors say on page 13, "Each of us can learn the strategies and skills that permit us to deal effectively with worries and fears. You can help yourself. And what you learn will assist you in dealing effectively with many of life's challenges."
The authors also note that universities have resources available to students to cope with the stress and pressure that college life can bring. Here at Chico State there are places on campus available to help you navigate college, such as Student Services, Academic Advising, and the Counseling Center.
Contributed by Aaron Bowen