Timely Resources - August & September Stressors for Students
July 16, 2024
Each year students deal with regular and calendar-based stressors in addition to whatever might be happening in the larger world. These are some items to consider when working with students.
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Not all students will have the same types of discomfort or stressors, students hold many identities that will mean they experience different challenges, or the same challenges in a different way.
- Homesickness, particularly for new students.
- Roommate conflicts — new roommates or having a roommate for the first time can disrupt schedules, and create conflict over expectations and communication.
- Overwhelmed feelings start as students are inundated with information, class schedules, opportunities to get involved, and transitioning into college life.
- Values crisis — students are confronted with questions of conscience over value conflict areas, such as drug and alcohol experimentation, morality, race, politics, religion, and social expectations. In Loco Parentis Blues: students feel stress because of real or perceived restrictive policies and regulations of the institution, rather than the total freedom they expected.
- Imposter Syndrome — students feels like they may not deserve to be at the institution or don’t deserve their success.
- Feelings of inadequacy and inferiority develop because of the discrepancy between high school status and grades and initial college performance.
- International students may not be able to access the same foods and goods and begin missing events or holidays.
- Balances after financial aid is disbursed create concerns about affordability and returning for the next semester.
- Financial challenges start for many students as their basic needs may not be met, or they realize they have different financial situations than their peers.