Today: Mar 29, 2024

Everyone deals with stress on multiple levels

Rachel Forst – Special to the Southern News

Stress comes in all forms, whether good or bad stress. It can vary depending on how each person deals. Those who are full-time students and work between 20 to 40 hours a week along with students who work part-time are bound to feel the stressors. Juggling a full course load on top of working how many hours a week can weigh on someone, according to a study from University of North Carolina at Charlotte. “I work 17 hours a week, I think that’s about all I can handle,” said John Fortuna, senior psychology major at SCSU.

According to the American Association of University Professors, most students that are full time should be working up to 10 to 15 hours a week. However, that is not the case anymore for undergraduates. Most students on the Southern Connecticut State University campus work to help put themselves through college, pay bills, car insurance; most help out with their own families by working.

Ten, fifteen years ago most students that were full-time or part time worked less; more and more full-time and part time students are working more over the past five years. According to The College Solution, 23% of full time undergrads work 20 or more hours a week. The stresses put upon students to do well in their classes and succeed are enormous; it all depends on how they handle the stress to work in their favor.

“I’m a bit stressed, managing your time better is important. Sometimes I don’t have enough time, it makes you question how much should I be working. For me I have ADD, I need to get things done early but after class I go straight to work,” said Fortuna.

Full time students such as Fortuna know the stressors of being a working student and when to get things done on time, such as homework or projects. Stress takes effect on a person’s body and mind, whether they become tired or have trouble completing assignments; as well as maintaining a certain GPA. “It’s a mindset for me personally, as long as I manage my time. I go see an ADHD counselor to help with this and not a lot of other students have that opportunity,” said Fortuna.

Ways of managing stress for students who work certain amount of hours depends on what that student takes interest in. For some it’s sleeping or watching a funny movie to relax, others it may be meditation or listening to music. Difficulty managing stress can be helped with seeing a counselor on campus or making a list of things that need to be done on time before having to go into work.

Learning to manage one’s own stress levels all depends on how much they think one should be working along with juggling four to five classes. Utilizing all the resources a working undergrad can use such as taking advantage of a professor’s office hours and understanding what has to get done on time such as reading a few chapters for the next class, typing up a paper, getting started on a project.

According to the AAUP, most undergraduate students do have difficulty juggling the demands of maintaining a well enough grade in their classes, succeeding in work and making time for friends and family. “Three times a week I play basketball,” said Fortuna, “When I play ball you’re not thinking, just playing – that’s my way to relax.”

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