Let’s Talk About Stress

Students share their stress management tips

By Conner Garrity
Observer Contributor

During the semester, many students feel pressured when dealing with tests, projects, and assignments. Students feel stressed about dealing with this work but each student deals with it differently than the next person.

Sam Sykes, who studies Graphic/Interactive Design, said she does feel stress during the semester and especially during finals. She feels pressured because she takes five classes each semester. She says she tries to keep her mind at ease by finding creative outlets such as drawing, watching YouTube videos, and reading.

When it comes to advice for future students, she recommends not taking too many classes. In her case she takes five classes.

Sykes says she feels that stress can either make or break a person. Stress can help the student push themselves to do better, but some can’t deal with the stress and tend to fall behind on their work because it can be too much for them.

Alexis LaPlante, a photography major, says that she does feel very stressed during the semester because she thinks she is given too much work in a short amount of time. She thinks that one on one sessions with instructors could help for certain students.

LaPlante also believes that stress can affect people differently depending on the person. Some people can handle the work in the time span they are given but for others like herself, she believes that it is difficult because she has to deal with other subjects and other things outside of class.

Fellow student Bryce Harper, who studies Liberal Arts, says that the stress of finals doesn’t affect him too much. When he does feel stress, like LaPlante, it is usually because he feels overwhelmed with the work given by the instructors. When asked how things could change to benefit the students, he said it would be easier if they were to lessen the work or spread the assignments out a little so the work doesn’t get too overwhelming.

Harper’s advice to students who are just joining the school is to pace themselves and to not bite off more than you can chew.

“If you feel you need a break, take one,” Harper continued, “there is a student lounge with plenty to do there, so relax for a bit and clear your head.”