At this point in a student’s life, the stress of college decisions, financial troubles and the unknown of the future can take a toll on the mind and mental health. Though it can look different from one person to the next, happiness is something that everyone deserves and can achieve, even in these difficult times.
It’s extremely important that a person can acknowledge themselves and what they like to do. Understanding oneself helps with personal growth, decision making and confidence. Self-awareness also allows people to understand their emotions and behaviors, making it much easier to make choices and control emotions.
Having interests and hobbies greatly contributes to the overall happiness of a teen going through these changes. A sense of purpose and direction can be felt when discovering interests, and making an effort to meet people with similar interests is an excellent way to become more social in a time when making friends could be challenging.
Another challenge that students encounter around this time is the balance of academics and a social life. Though it’s important to focus on schooling, overworking can cause burnout and exhaustion. A lifestyle that has equal parts education and social events is linked to an enhanced sense of self and better academic performance.
Trinity Senior Lucy Skidmore is attending W&J for three years and then is going to Case Western Reserve University for two years to major in Aerospace Engineering. With academics and a busy social life, she can make time for both school and friends without stressing herself out.
“Throughout the school year, I stay motivated by setting clear and achievable goals. Reaching these goals is rewarding and encourages me to keep striving,” Skidmore said.
One struggle that numerous students may come across a little further into their college career is questioning and even changing their major. This may occur when they realize the coursework of the major is much harder than they intended or if their major doesn’t align with their personal goals. Students should carefully consider all options when picking a major and take their time when doing this.
Trinity Alumnus Drake Anderson is an upcoming junior at Slippery Rock University in Pittsburgh and is majoring in biology with a concentration in integrated biology. Even when he didn’t plan on it being in his future, working with marine life always stayed in the back of his mind.
“Choosing to be a biology major seemed the most enticing out of the other natural science types of majors because it’s something I’ve always felt pretty comfortable with. Biology was always one of my favorite classes in school, and I think just extending that to my major and future career can allow me to feel comfortable there too,” Anderson explained.
Being happy comes in many shapes and forms; it all depends on the person and their personality. Students who are struggling should never hesitate to reach out to friends or family for some help or advice.
