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Stress strikes students differently
ByIevaAugstums
Staff Reporter
Living as a college student in the
.’9,0s is npt easy: so jnany expecta
tions and responsibilities, and some
times more learning than fun.
For most students, college can be
the most stressful time of their lives.
Sue Bukacek, a psychologist a the
University Health Center, said,
“Students are prime targets for stress
just because they are students.”
“Students are very vulnerable to
societal stress,” Bukacek said. “There
is a lot to juggle around in only four
years. Even after graduation, learning
and educating oneself never seems to
cease ... nor does the stress.”
Stress can be good, called
eustress, when it helps us perform
better; or stress can be bad - distress
- when it causes one to become upset
or sick, Bukacek said.
In essence, stress is something
that cannot be avoided. Most people
do not have trouble realizing they are
stressed, but many do not realize what
causes or remedies stress.
Finances, academic achieve
ments, time management, family and
personal appearance are just some of
the common stresses of a college stu
dent. However, students are not, and
should not feel solely responsible for
having stress.
Bukacek said causes of stress
vary among students:
■ Freshmen deal with moving
away from home and loved ones,
adjusting to campus, getting used to a
new living environment, making new
friends, and experimenting with the
idea of independence.
■ Sophomores and juniors are
affected by more general types of
stress, such as deciding on a major
and/or study field, getting used to
harder classes and coping with
friends graduating and moving away
from college.
■ Seniors have difficulty with
saying goodbye to friends and loved
ones when they graduate and experi
ence the transition from college into
career world. Other stresses include
going to job interviews, applying and
being accepted into graduate school,
and realizing they are considered
adults and have more responsibilities.
Sometimes, it’s not the big
changes in life that cause the most
stress.
“The biggest stress in my life
right now is finding parking on this
campus,” said Malanie Richards, a
sophomore pre-nursing major. “If I
don’t find a place to park, I cannot
attend my classes.”
Students who experience stress,
whether it be simple or complex, do
not always recognize the onset of
stress, Bukacek said. Stress, is pro
duced by both normal and unexpect
ed events, as well as by both positive
and negative occurrences. Just as a
divorce or a low grade might increase
stress, positive experiences, such as a
marriage engagement or admission to
graduate school, also increase stress.
“Some stresses, like studying for
a test, can actually help you perform
well in the future when you are faced
with other stresses in your life,”
Bukacek said.
Brian Wucher, a junior interna
tional relations major, agreed.
“Doing your homework, or even
working ahead in your studies, means
you have one less thing you have to
do later,” Wucher said. “If you wait
until the last second to do things, you
allow for stress to build up and get
worse. If you manage your time and
get things done, you have more time
to relax and enjoy college.”
Making time for oneself and
relaxing is one way to deal with
stress. Other ways include getting
enough sleep, talking to friends and
family or a counselor, taking part in a
physical activity or sport and pamper
ing oneself to certain luxuries, such
as a relaxing massage, Bukacek said
Managing stress is easier said
than done. For most people, stress
management is the hardest task they
will ever face in life, she said.
“Stress can be more harmful to a
student when they do not feel in con
trol of their stress levels and the
events that produce them in; their
lives,” said Melissa Ellenson, a
sophomore secondary education
major and student health aide.
Ellenson has not assisted any stu
dents yet in coping with stress, but is
assured that when midterms and final
exams come, students will be knock
ing on her door wanting someone to
talk to and give reassurance that
everything will work out for the best.
Ellenson said she is ready to help in
any way she can.
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