Beginning college can be extremely stressful. Not only are students expected to leave behind their homes and families to find their own place in this world, but many expectations are forced upon young people. These expectations may include, but are not limited to: picking the right university early in senior year of high school; balancing extracurricular activities with a thriving social life and better-than-average grades; holding a part-time job in order to help pay back ever-mounting student loans. Then the real stressor for many college students comes with that often-heard phrase, “You only go to college once and after that, you’re expected to hold a good job, so have fun while you can!”
Where do these unrealistic expectations for young adults come from? Many who have faced the challenges of college life would claim that these ideas were sowed in their brains by their parents or by their own ambitious dreams. However, there is one source of pressure that people often do not consider: the media. The reality of college life is not often depicted in feature length films or long-running television series—after all, why would anyone want to spend their time watching actors cram for examinations or sit in lectures all week long? Since this is not a reasonable plot for successful entertainment, college is portrayed as a fun and carefree time where young people can truly find themselves…albeit while partying and engaging in unlawful activities, such as underage drinking.
The hit movie Pitch Perfect is an excellent example of twisting college life to fit entertainment values. Within the first half an hour of the movie, the freshmen are already getting drunk and having sex! Grades are hardly mentioned, and it appears that students in any of the school’s three acapella groups spend more time practicing for their competitions than they do working hard for their education. The plot is humorous to adults who have passed through college ‑ everyone does things they regret while in school! However, to the high school senior, this relatively carefree plot makes them believe that college is just a place to experiment and go crazy, not to focus on their grades or preparing for the future.
So how can you have fun in college while still focusing on your education? I have come up with a list of five simple ways:
- Set aside blocks of time in your schedule to hang out with friends and get some built-up pressure out of your system.
- Do not try to cram schoolwork in at the last minute; this will only lead to more stress. Instead, plan ahead and give yourself time to breathe. Not every assignment due at midnight needs to be turned in at 11:59 PM.
- You do not need to spend every waking hour with friends, even if you are an extrovert. Take time for yourself and do something that you find relaxing: read a book, watch a relaxing TV show, take a walk, listen to music, etc.
- Get to know your professor! While this one may not seem like fun, I guarantee it will save you a lot of stress. Professors like when their students ask questions and visit during office hours; it shows that you care about your coursework.
- Finally, remember that Hollywood does not always depict realistic circumstances. Your college experience can be so much more than just partying and hangovers if you remember that TV and movie producers do not dictate your life. You will be able to have more fun once you realize college is a much bigger experience than what Hollywood chooses to show.