Moving out and going to college is a huge step in anyone’s life. There are a lot of decisions that have to be made, and sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. But once you’ve started your classes, that is when you see the real conflict. All the stress of homework, classes, studying, tests, sports, work, can be tough when you have so much to get done and have little time to do it.
By Shellie Polly
Staff Writer
Moving out and going to college is a huge step in anyone’s life. There are a lot of decisions that have to be made, and sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. But once you’ve started your classes, that is when you see the real conflict. All the stress of homework, classes, studying, tests, sports, work, can be tough when you have so much to get done and have little time to do it.
In a case like this you are forced to put some things aside, some things that, before school, would have come first on your priority list. When you are forced to make unwilling sacrifices to get ‘the important things’ done, you stress, and that causes many unhealthy habits.
“Between never ending homework, practice every day sometimes twice a day, and work, I tend to skip quite a few meals to make sure everything gets done,” said junior track competitor Dan Grosso. “I very rarely get a good night’s sleep since I have to study for tests, and write papers, then have to get up really early for practice then class, it’s never ending. And then I do it all over again the next day,” said Grosso.
Students are required to have a certain amount of credits each semester, and with that comes a lot of work. But what the professors do not realize is students have a lot more to get done than just the work they assign. Many students are on sports teams, in numerous clubs, or have a certain other dedication and obligations that they must get done as well, whether it be work, or even volunteering, there is just so much to do.
“I have practice all the time, early, so I barely get any sleep, and afterwords I’m stuck with loads of homework, even weeks in advance trying to get done to stay on track,” said Ashley White, a junior lacrosse player.
“With conditioning, work, homework, more practice, and classes, it is hard to find time for food and sleep, not to mention professors expecting us to find time to meet with groups outside of class. That can be difficult when nobody has time or schedules that coincide,” said White.
With too many things going on that you know you have to get done, you are forced to choose what is more important and what should get done first. The decision may turn out badly in certain classes with certain professors or coaches when they expect you to get everyone’s work done no matter what. It is definitely a struggle.
Samantha Carbonara, a freshman, said “I am forced to set aside sleep and personal time with everything going on at school. One thing I try to do is set aside the stressful issues so I’m not constantly dwelling on them.”
“Eating gets set aside a lot. I have practice in the morning, then classes all day, lifting, then night classes. Sometimes I miss dinner completely. Sleep is lacking but I try to get naps in as much as possible, which still isn’t very often,” said Steph Lazzaro, a junior lacrosse player.
Trying to keep all of your obligations to everyone, including the school, your parents, your boss, and your coach, is extremely stressful, and no one is really sure how to deal with it. With that stress comes the unhealthy habits. It’s not good, but there’s not much you can do. You are required to get things done, meanwhile, not required to eat every day, so you are forced to let go of some things that may seem a little less important at the time.
Those things, the minimum word count, the expected grade, the three page tests, all the projects, group work, meetings, they all have deadlines, so you put aside the “little” things like eating, and sleeping which are just as important as any of your deadlines. But you are forced to do so.