The coronavirus pandemic. Deceased heroes. The 2020 presidential election. Protests in the streets. Canceled sports. Closed dorms. Oh my!
Needless to say, we are living through a tumultuous time. One moment, we feel content with the new normal and the next, a bomb is dropped upon us. For incoming and a handful of returning students, it was Michigan State University’s decision to not open the dorms for the fall semester.
A chance to escape, a chance to begin again, gone in a second. While some students were not negatively impacted by the decision and were quite thankful to save money, others entered a spiral. Michigan State provided a haven: a haven they now have to find within themselves.
Whether President Stanley’s decision affected you or not, we all can agree on one thing — 2020 has brought a whirlwind of emotions. There have been good days of hope and a restoration of humanity. There have been bad days where it feels as if the world is falling apart — one refreshing of Twitter at a time.
Check up on your family, check up on your friends, but most importantly, check up on yourself.
A recent article by What To Become shares that 27% of college students have been diagnosed with depression. This is only predicted to increase as loneliness is one of the most common symptoms. Whether it’s a Zoom call, a quick text, or making the trip to see friends for lunch at HopCat, don’t lose the human connection. Don’t lose the love. Now more than ever, we need it most.
What To Become also shares that 57.7% of college students have felt “overwhelming anxiety” within the past year. It is natural to feel anxious when starting a new year, opening a new book or meeting new faces. With this said, it is nothing but natural to feel anxious when a pandemic has single handedly affected every level of society. Be patient with yourself.
With every sunrise, comes a feeling of hope — a feeling that we can and that we will get through this. Whether it’s this spring or a year from now, better days are coming. Be mindful of how you are feeling. Be mindful of how others are feeling. And when in doubt, never be afraid for an impromptu “mental health check.”