Ups and Downs of College Living
By: Nate Campau
College can be one of the most challenging but rewarding periods in a person’s life. Financial struggles, inadequate nutrition, overwhelming workloads, and intense stress often take a toll on students’ mental and physical well-being. The report, The Student Mental Health Landscape, shows more than 80 percent of college students say they are struggling emotionally, with more than a fourth saying they are struggling significantly. To add to this, In 2020 about 3.8 million college students experienced food insecurity. Now more than ever, it seems that college students face unprecedented challenges, making them one of the most overworked, financially unstable, and mentally exhausted generations in recent history.
However, amongst these struggles I find that there is also a unique beauty to college. It is where you discover new interests, hobbies and things about yourself you never knew before. The difficulties of balancing academics, work, and personal responsibilities make the experiences and relationships formed even more meaningful thanks to struggling and overcoming together. College is not just a test of endurance, it is a place of opportunity and personal growth, creates resilience, discipline, and adaptability – shaping individuals in ways that prepare them for life beyond. It is also a time for forging deep, lasting friendships built through shared challenges, late-night study sessions, ups and downs, and bad or good memories many will hold onto for the rest of their lives.
