Written by: Trey Walker
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA-College can be exciting, but it can also be stressful. Students have to deal with classes, homework, jobs, sports, and personal responsibilities all at the same time. Because of this, many students struggle to balance everything. At Lincoln University, stress is something many students deal with every day, and everyone seems to have their own way of coping with it.
Understanding how students manage stress is important because it can help schools find better ways to support them. As a student at Lincoln University, I see how stress affects students around me all the time. I also experience it myself. To learn more about how students handle stress, I interviewed several Lincoln students about what they do when they start to feel overwhelmed.
One of the most common ways students deal with stress is by talking to family members or close friends. Many students said that venting to someone they trust helps them feel better. Talking about problems can help them release their emotions and get advice or encouragement.
One student explained, “When I get stressed out, I usually call my mom or talk to my friends because they help calm me down and remind me everything will be okay.” This shows how important emotional support can be for students dealing with pressure from school and everyday life.
Another way students cope with stress is by spending time on social media. Some students said they scroll through their phones to distract themselves from their problems for a while. This is sometimes called “doom scrolling,” where people spend a lot of time looking at content online.
A student said, “Sometimes when I’m stressed, I just lie in bed and scroll on my phone for hours, so I don’t have to think about everything I need to do.” While this can help students relax for a short time, it can also make stress worse if their work starts to pile up.
Even though many colleges offer counseling and mental health services, some students said they do not use them. Some students feel more comfortable dealing with their problems on their own, while others may feel unsure about asking for help.
With that, a student shared, “I know the school has counseling, but I’ve never used it. I usually just deal with stress by myself.” This shows that some students may not feel comfortable using the mental health resources that are available on campus.
The interviews show that students are finding different ways to manage their stress. Some talk to family and friends, others use social media to distract themselves, and some try to handle their problems on their own. However, these responses also show that schools should continue working to make mental health support easier and more comfortable for students to use.
Stress will probably always be part of the college experience, but understanding how students deal with it can help universities support them better. Lincoln University could try to hire counselors that students can relate to, such as people who come from urban communities or who share similar life experiences. By also encouraging open conversations about mental health and making resources easier to access, schools can help students feel more supported and less alone when they are dealing with stress.
