College Stress
Jack's heart pounds as he casts panicked looks around the classroom. He doesn't recognize the professor, he doesn't know any of the students, and he can't even figure out what the subject is. In front of him is a test. At the very last minute his roommate awakens him. It's only another anxiety dream. The very fact that dreams like Jack's are common suggests that college is a stressful situation for young people. The cause of this stress can be academic, financial, and personal. Academic stress is common for college students. For many students, going to college is more than just attending classes and taking notes. They usually have a hard time understanding school guidelines and deciding what major they want to study. It is very stressful to read and understand all the school policies, especially the transfer instructions. It is even harder for student to make up their mind what major they should concentrate on. Choosing the right courses and making a schedule is another headache job that students have to go through. Students often find it very tough to decide what are the right classes to take that related to their major. It is also stressful to wake up in the morning and be one time for classes. Finally, preparing and taking mid-term and final exams are the most stressful time that student encounter for the entire semester. In a similar case to Jack, my friend, Som, who is a good student at City College, always gets nervous and stays up all night to study for his mid-term and final exams. Since, school requires students to maintain their GPA to a certain point in order for them to stay in school, passing the classes and getting good grades are one of the most concerning issues for a lot of students. In addition to academic stress, students often feel financial pressure. Most of the college students work part-time while attending college. They have more responsibilities than just maintaining their GPA. Paying for their school tuition and textbooks are