Getting to the Finish Line. What is College Life Essay Example

When your family says their farewells and leaves you at your new beginnings, some people flood with emotion and some are ready for what their “new” life brings them. Yet do we know the obstacles and late nights we will have to deal with to cross that college finish line. The focus of this research paper is to examine the hurdles  and trials that may await an individual as they pursue their degree and career path ,which is important hence I am a college freshman and may  experience related obstacles during my college career.

There are numerous hurdles that may await you in college. According to Macalester the top back issue would be transitioning problems. Being at Columbus State University for 8 weeks now my parents had a concern that I would miss home, even though they were wrong, a dear friend of mine is having the hardest time transitioning from being in the care of her parents 24/7 to barely seeing them. Macalester says, “There is the stress of making a good adjustment because students believe their future depends upon their doing well.” In the text resources explain that students may question their choices such as, if this is the right school for them, will this major help them in the future, or if their head is in the right space at the moment. In addition, some students may miss their family, friends, pets, old habits and structure Macalester emphasizes. 

Have you ever been in a class lecture half asleep and thought to yourself “How on earth am I still awake and what is this professor even talking about?” yeah you are not alone. According to Statista publisher Emma Bedford, “In 2019, United States sales of Red Bull energy drinks amounted to approximately 1.13 billion U.S. dollars for the 13 weeks ended on December 28, 2019[…]frequently consumed on college campuses to help students stay awake for long nights of studying and homework.” During these 13 weeks college students have long papers, projects, midterms and finals. This too falls under time management. As a matter of fact, publisher Garfield Gates, Owl Cation, stresses that “College is academically challenging. For many, college courses require much more effort than high school classes did. Unlike most high schools, colleges often pack two years of content into one year.” Which can be incredibly stressful for students and leave them not in the best state of mind. It draws thoughts of doubt which students wonder if they are doing enough or not enough in classes. 

This leads me to my third point, the mental health of college students. By the numbers: Stress on Campus 2017 author Lea Winerman states, “Sixty percent, the percentage of college students seeking counseling who report anxiety, according to the survey. Other concerns include depression (49 percent), stress (45 percent), family issues (31 percent), academic performance (28 percent) and relationship problems (27 percent).” As a result, each topic that was discussed in the paper has several effects on the poor mental health college students may encounter during their time being.

It's nothing like a personal source, so I asked my cousin about one major obstacle that he faced during his years in college and how he feels now that he is a semester away from graduation.