As finals approach, how is the mental health of PSU engineering students?
It’s 10 p.m. in the Pattee and Paterno library. Numbers of students sit at the computers, working on different assignments as the semester nears to a close. Two male students share one computer, they whisper mutters of annoyance at the class and the project they’re working on. Saying things like “this is stupid” and “I’ll be glad when this is done.” A female student takes off her glasses to rub her eyes and temples, letting out a sigh.
Luke Sprayberry, a senior engineering student at Penn State, says that his stress and lack of sleep have “done a number” on his mental health. Earlier this semester, to study for an exam he had at 8 a.m. the next morning, Sprayberry had to stay up and pull an “all-nighter.” In order to stay awake, he ate coffee grounds for immediate caffeine which he described as “gross”.
“This is what engineering and college has done to me,” Sprayberry said. “It’s resulted in me eating coffee grounds to stay awake and study.”
Sprayberry says he hasn’t been this sleep deprived in his entire life. According to him, he’ll drink on average three cups of coffee a day, which he feels has had a negative impact on his mental health as well as his physical health. He does talk to his parents on the phone twice a week which he said has been a big help.
“Talking to them always puts me in a good mood,” said Sprayberry. “Like, always. So, I know if I’m ever too stressed about an exam or I’m just in my head too much I can give them a call. They’re very supportive”
Sprayberry took a year off from school last year to work at a co-op in Atlanta, Georgia. He felt he needed the year off to get his mind right and felt that doing a co-op was the most productive way of doing so by gaining experience for his resume and making money.
“It was good to take a break from school and get some real hands-on experience,” said Sprayberry. “I’m happy to be back at school, but it was nice to step away for a little bit. Really helped clear my mind and get motivated again.”
Julia Badera (grad student-biological engineering) is a foreign student who is from Italy. She enjoys being here in the United States and has enjoyed her time at Penn State which, according to her, has been filled with studying, studying and even more studying. She is currently taking three undergrade courses, and one grad course. She is expected to graduate in May.
“It is stressful,” said Badera. “But you have to keep moving forward.”
Badera tries to study everyday and spends most of her free time studying. It’s a bit tougher for her since English is her second language.
“English is complicated,” said Badera. “So, I try to study more than I usually do to help me understand it better.”
Stress and time management
Brendan Berton (junior-electrical engineering) says time management is “crucial” for your mental health, especially in a stressful major such as engineering or nursing.
When he was a freshman, Berton would stay in his dorm room and focus on schoolwork non-stop, which would stress him out and set him into a depression. He later learned that to be able to relax and enjoy college, you need to be able to manage schoolwork and having fun with your friends.
“You just have to make time to hang out with friends and have fun,” said Berton. “It serves as a distraction from the workload and gives you something to look forward too during the week.”
Ryan Smith (junior-mechanical engineering) said he has “learned the hard way” when it comes to managing his coursework and time. During his first semester here at Penn State in Fall 2019, Smith had to drop his calculus class, resulting in him having to retake it in the spring and later take a summer semester to catch up.
“It definitely opened my eyes,” said Smith.
Smith admitted to what caused it was a mix of adjusting from high school to college and having too much fun and not enough studying. During his first semester of his freshman year, he said he would have fun almost every night, staying up until early morning hours. After winter break of that year however, Smith changed that by going to bed at a better hour, focusing a lot on his schoolwork during the week, and rewarding himself by having fun on the weekends. A routine he still holds himself too today.
“I haven’t had a problem since,” said Smith. “I’ve been doing great in school now. And I’ve also put myself around better friends who have the same goals as me. Sometimes, that’s what you have to do. It’s hard, but necessary.”
What is the best advice?
Aidan O’Connor, a junior who is studying civil engineering, thinks the best advice for college students who are struggling with mental health issues is to be active, pick-up hobbies, hang out with friends and join clubs that interest you. One of his favorite hobbies is to play guitar in his room.
“I like to stay busy,” said O’Connor. “And playing guitar is kind of therapeutic to me.”
Speaking of staying busy, O’Connor and his roommate, Alex Bohlin (junior-civil engineering) have joined two clubs this year. The American Society for Civil Engineers (ASCE) and Concrete Canoe (an engineering competition where those involved create and design canoes out of concrete and race them). The two were hesitant to join clubs for their first two years at school, but the experience of being in a club has been “exciting.”
“Being around people who are like-minded is nice,” said O’Connor. “You get to meet a lot of new people and make new friends which is what I think everyone needs.”
Recently, the two went to an event for Concrete Canoe in Pittsburgh which lasted over a weekend. While they were there, they got to go into Heinz Stadium (which fields the Pittsburgh Steelers) which Bohlin said as a Steelers fan was “awesome.”
O’Connor and Bohlin are currently taking three courses together, as the two are in the same major. They both agree that it has helped them a lot.
“To go through it with someone is definitely a big plus,” said O’Connor. “We help each other with homeworks and studying and projects. It takes a lot of the stress away knowing you have someone there to help you if you miss something.”
“We’ve been taking classes together since we met in Chem 110 [an introductory chemistry course] freshman year,” said Bohlin. “Honestly, I don’t know if I could’ve gotten this far without the help of others.”
Bohlin says a way he relieves stress is by going to the gym regularly.
“It’s a big help,” said Bohlin. “I can relieve all stress and tension in the gym, and I feel better afterward. Plus, it’s good for my health so win win.”
Need help?
Penn State is very serious when it comes to the mental health of its students. The university supplies multiple programs, counseling and psychological services, and crisis interventions to students who need help. On the website, CAPS mission statement reads: “Whether you are struggling with academic stress, homesickness, relationship issues, depression, or another mental health concern, the counseling and psychological services staff are here to support you.”
If you or someone you know is a Penn State student who needs professional help, you can reach CAPS through their website at this link: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling
They are located at the Student Health Center on campus behind the Millennium Science Complex across the street from the Pollock Testing Center. Their hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can contact their offices using this number: (814) 863–0395.
If there is an emergency situation after hours, contact the 24/7 Penn State Crisis Line at 1–877–229–6400 or text “LIONS” to 741741.
