College is often thought of as the last four years to be young before one is forced to enter the real world, but for many, the pressures to grow up begin during freshman year. The new responsibility of being on one’s own combined with juggling classes, friendships, work, athletics, and everything else that college has to offer can catapult college students into adulthood before they are ready.
In order to fight these pressures, members of the University community have come up with some simple ways to keep the inner child alive and combat the stress of growing up.
Sophomore Thomas Egan said that his trick to staying youthful is all in his attitude. “I guess I always keep a positive attitude on things and remember that it could always be worse,” he said.
Egan is also a member of the Student Activities Board (SAB) and said that being a part of a club and being able to participate in the fun events helps him to relieve stress and keep his mind off of school for a period of time. To stay in touch with his inner child, Egan said he enjoys listening to music and watching television shows that were popular when he was a child.
Sophomore Dylan Vargas relies on his friends to help him fight the pressures of growing up. He said that hanging out with his friends at night helps him to relieve some of the stress of the day. “Doing homework with friends or roommates makes it seem less tedious and reminds me that the people around me are in the same situation.”
Vargas said another trick for remaining youthful is going out on the weekends. “You get two days every week to get away from classes and school and do what you want to do. I usually go to the beach or hang out with my friends. Doing spontaneous things in the moment helps a lot too,” said Vargas.
Vargas added, “There was one night during the Spring semester where my friends and I went outside and played a midnight kickball game in the snow and it was the most fun I had in weeks. Little things like that really help to keep my inner child alive.”
Dr. Gloria Rotella, specialist professor of music and theatre arts, offered advice for students from her experience at the University and also from when she was a student herself. Rotella believes how a person remains youthful in college all depends on their outlook and “not sweating the small stuff.”
As a professor she has seen what works for students and what does not. “One of the primary ways that I see students handle this is by developing a time management routine. Those students designate time for study, exercise, nutrition and social activities,” Rotella said.
Rotella also suggests that students finding a form of exercise they can enjoy can be a great outlet and that participating in groups and clubs can provide students with a counter-balance to their academic studies. “Having a fun ritual that you can enjoy either by yourself or with others such as movie night, Friday night dinner with friends or scheduled gym workouts also contribute to alleviating stress,” she said.
Rotella had a routine of her own to remain youthful during her time in studying. “During my college days, participation in music ensembles, daily yoga, and hiking helped me to achieve balance that led to my youthful outlook on life which has followed me to this day.”
Remaining youthful in college despite all the pressures students face may be easy to achieve if students have a good outlook on the situation and a routine that helps them to shed off the stress of school. This enables people to remember their inner youth.
PHOTO TAKEN from melhusbarnehagen.ning.com
