Advice to College Students
By: Jana Fusha, Associate Consultant
While graduation might pose uncertainty for some, it’s an accomplishment that opens endless opportunities and one of the very few instances in life that leads us to a fresh start, a new beginning, a time that we are supposed to reinvent ourselves, right? Well if you are graduating during a global pandemic, not only does the feeling of uncertainty intensify, but it feels like every opportunity around you is a door being slammed shut by the global crisis- trust me, I’ve been there.
It comes as no surprise that mental health has been one of the main issues for this academic year.
According to the Journal of Medical Research, a study was conducted with 195 students at a large University, and survey questions were asked to determine the effects of the pandemic on their mental health and overall well-being. The results? Shocking.
“Of the 195 students, 138 (71%) indicated increased stress and anxiety due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Multiple stressors were identified that contributed to the increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depressive thoughts among students”.
Just like many that are gearing up for graduation season, I was faced with so many unknowns that my mind couldn’t fully grasp. Trying to dedicate 100% of myself to my studies, desperately trying to recover my salon business from Covid shutdowns, and tuning into the horrific news channel every day started to take a toll on my mental health.
But in any case, the best piece of advice that I came across is to take advantage of the slowness around you. Everything is slow! Delivery times, the election results, public transit, and just about everything else, and while you may or may not feel the immense pressure to embark on your first career, the best use of time is to invest in yourself.
Take an inventory of your skills and make it a priority to build upon your gifts or include time to improve in the areas you are lacking- this means stepping outside of your comfort zone. Now more than ever there is a wide range of online tools and classes you can take to improve on skills or diversify yourself and learn something new! Take this time to slow yourself down and explore all the opportunities- even the opportunities that deviate from your degree. Follow your genuine interest as it will keep your mental health and sanity, and who knows you may even create new opportunities and find yourself opening doors you never thought possible.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Veeva.
