_Rachel Schnelle is a sophomore journalism major at MU. She is an opinion columnist who writes about student life for The Maneater._
According to research done by Love to Know, 20% of college students reported feeling stressed most of the time. Students are overwhelmed by the demands of being full-time students and having a part-time job. However, it could also be that students have trouble saying no to things, causing them to overload their schedules.
Research done by Collegiate Parent says that campus involvement is critical during the first year of college. The benefits include making friends, expanding interests and feeling part of a community as well as having the ability to have fun by saving money, honing skills future employers will look for and creating a network.
As someone who is in multiple organizations, I know that being involved has brought me many memories and different friends. It’s given me opportunities to further my career and personal growth. However, it has also caused me to become over-committed, causing me to become even more stressed than I was before.
I have a problem with not being able to say no. I don’t think it’s just a me issue, it’s something the average college student struggles with. It’s okay to be in an organization that interests you and brings networking opportunities. However, being too involved and overcommitting can easily become an issue. When you find yourself not having enough time to do homework, sleep or eat, then it may be time to cut down on something.
Overcommitment and stress can be a product of society’s hustle culture. Being busy has become such a status symbol and students think it’s just a part of college. But being busy can negatively affect the grades and overall well-being of students.
A solution to this problem could be to prioritize and realize what is actually important in your life. Make sure that you’re putting what you love first, instead of putting it to the back-burner for something that could build your resume.
It can be so easy to become involved in things that build your resume, but it’s also important to be a part of something that will improve your overall well-being.
_Edited by Bryce Kolk | bkolk@themaneater.com_
