Congratulations on making it to college, class of 2029! You probably heard this already, but it’s important to keep reminding yourself that getting into college is no easy feat, and you should be proud of yourself for getting to this stage of your life.
Your journey of self-discovery will continue here, whether or not you’re aware that your journey has even started. These years may fly by at times with all the new experiences you may encounter by putting yourself out there and searching for things that interest you. Other times, the passage of time may slow down, like in a boring class you’d rather skip to rot in bed.
Regardless, it’s important to focus on mental health, which everyone, regardless of aspects of identity like ethnicity and gender, has to nurture in order to heal.
I wanted to write a short list of mental health tips as someone who has experienced a lot in the realm of mental health by example as well as academically. This may not apply to all of you, as this is far from a monolith and obviously doesn’t replace a mental health professional’s expertise. But it could be beneficial to hear a fellow college student’s perspective on managing mental health in this simultaneously scary and exciting time so your college experience can be as successful as it can be.
This is a reset from high school
If you’re anything like me, high school was like what I imagine hell to be. I was extremely lonely and insecure, trying too hard to fit in like a chameleon.
But college is a different experience.
No longer are you stuck in a singular stuffy building, but now multiple buildings with varying levels of stuffiness, recreational and social spaces to meet new people and nature surrounding you. You can make fresh first impressions and work with different faculty than the ones in high school.
You may have some people at UConn who you knew previously, but this is a pretty big campus, so you’d usually have to go out of your way to see them.
Budget your valuable time: Fit in time for academics, but also self-care and social time
Classes can be incredibly overwhelming, especially with the amount of homework and readings you may need to do. Because of this, it’s important to budget your time. Many people use a calendar or assignment tracking app to help manage their time and get their assignments done on time.
But college is much more than just academics: You need to take care of yourself. Take breaks for self-care and to prevent burnout. You need to make time to eat and sleep in between classes and coursework. You might also want to put yourself in social situations occasionally. This could mean going to study in a public space, going to clubs you saw on UConntact or going outside to take a walk.
Prioritize yourself
We can only love others healthily when we can love ourselves. Be patient with yourself; treat yourself with grace and kindness and never forfeit your ability to change for the better. Having a growth mindset is crucial for succeeding in college, because nobody’s perfect.
Your grades shouldn’t define your self-worth
Maybe high school conditioned you to think this way, but students are much more than just letters and numbers on a screen. Yes, you’re in college to succeed academically and establish a career, but there’s so much more to life. You’re a human being. You also have non-academic aspirations, talents, hobbies, knowledge and/or personalities among other things that deserve to have their own space in your mind.
You will make mistakes, and that’s okay
You have to forgive yourself before you can move on from the past. Don’t let the past control you; college is about forging a future. Nobody’s perfect, but we can only strive to be the best we can for the sake of those around us.
If you never put yourself out there, how can you live your best life?
There have been moments where I tried to put myself out there, but it went horribly wrong due to people getting the wrong ideas. Still, with experience comes education, and I give myself grace to make mistakes and try to minimize damage.
We can’t live in fear of ridicule although it may be optimal to do so. Is that a life worth living?
We should live to experience new things and improve ourselves instead of losing confidence because some people made fun of aspects of your identity or your behaviors.
It may be difficult, but it could be beneficial to go to that event, talk to that person or go to that place (with personal safety in mind). You never know where these experiences will lead you.
For example, I met someone in orientation and kept in contact with her. Now, two years later, we’re incredibly close friends and we’ve helped each other out on numerous occasions.
You are not alone. Help is available.
There are resources on and off-campus that can help you if you’re struggling mentally. For a start, consult the back of your OneCard, which has a QR code for crisis support.
An underrated one beyond Student Health and Wellness that I would like to promote is the cultural centers’ pro-staff, who are not mandated reporters. They can direct you to other resources on-campus in a kind and welcoming way or even just have a conversation with you (when they’re not in meetings). It’s literally their job to talk to, support and advocate for you.
We have all gone through a lot in our education. For the grand majority of us, it was not effortless. It may be hard to “find your place,” but it’s possible. There’s so much going on within ourselves, our community and the world. But regardless, we are strong, and we need to stay confident and resilient in order to blossom and succeed.
I hope you enjoy your time at UConn, class of 2029. Prioritize your mental health.