Stress Strategies by Year

So what's different about stress in college? After all, you've had stress before, and apparently you managed it well enough to be here at Cornell. You've also had competing responsibilities before: social, academic, athletic, personal. Somehow you probably also made time for friends and family. But here you are now, floundering. Perhaps you're not focusing on work, eating more (or less) than you should, finding yourself feeling anxious or worried. And when a stressor comes your way, you sometimes feel overwhelmed. Right? Rest assured. You're not alone. No matter where you are in your college career, there are some unique challenges to face and, if possible, overcome. Learning how to do so will help you now, and can benefit you in the "after-college" years!

---

First-year Floundering

Even though you may believe you're the only one feeling overwhelmed, know that every person who moves to a new place and embarks on a new challenge goes through some version of transitional stress. Your 1st year at Cornell will require adapting to a whole new environment (campus, town, region, etc.). You may be sharing a room for the first time, or meeting people you just don't seem to click with as much as the friends you had before. You may be wondering what happened to the sunshine! Ithaca can be rather "grey," and, because light affects one's mood, you may be feeling a bit tired and depressed. (See information on the Winter Blues.) Your eating patterns and academic load have undoubtedly changed. Plus, you may feel like a small fish in a big pond, or like you don't belong here.

On top of it all, you may not have much experience taking care of yourself, or learning what to do when you're "in over your head." Most likely, your family and community at home largely determined your priorities, your schedule, and helped you through difficult experiences. Now, each day is yours to plan. No one will check to see if you've gone to class, done your work, your laundry, or if you've eaten breakfast, so the motivation and follow-through must come from within. Tough stuff, right? It is.

The concept you need to master in your first year is BALANCE. Use that free planner you got from Cornell; get help with time management; practice stress management techniques daily. Learn how to study effectively, and give your body what it needs to stay strong and healthy throughout the highs and lows of the school year. (Mom was right: It really is important to allocate time for sleep, exercise, relaxed meals, and fun.)

Even after your first year, the transitions will continue. Each semester requires new adaptations. You may start and/or end friendships and romantic relationships. You may change your major, change your address, change your political perspective, change your look. You may get or lose funding. All of this can be stressful.

---

Facing the "Sophomore Slump"

So you're back for "Round Two," and you should know it all, right? Well....maybe not. It's not unusual for sophomores to experience a whole new set of stressors when they return to campus. Unlike the first-year students, you may have a basic understanding of what's here, where to go, and how to access help when you need it. But now there are the following challenges: to declare a major (if you haven't already), consider internships, study abroad, or other activities that will support your academic goals, and possibly adjust to the greater responsibilities of off-campus living. This is a lot to take on.  

If you were successful in your academics during your first year, you may feel pressure to achieve the same high standards, or worry that it was all "a fluke" and begin to second-guess the work you're doing now. If your first year was a bust, you may have a lack of confidence, or concerns about making up for a slow start in order to maintain your  financial aid package. Expanding your coping mechanisms in your second year is key. If you didn't reach out for support in your first year, it's not too late to connect with on-campus resources.

The attached resource guide(pdf) from Mulhenberg College offers some terrific tips on climbing out of the Sophomore Slump.

---

Juggling it all as a Junior

It was the best of times... It was the worst of times. Sound familiar? Usually students really hit their stride during their Junior year. Friendships have solidified; you know what classes to take; and you've figured out how to make your own favorite pasta dishes if necessary. However, you may find that the major you initially chose simply isn't working for you. How do you tell your parents? What if you can't finish in four years? What if you think you need to take a break from school altogether? Or, perhaps you're thrilled with your major, but stressed about finding an internship or job in the field.  In any case, learning to assert who you are (who you've become) and establish a life plan that's consistent with your values, goals, and talents is essential to taking care of yourself this year.

---

Senior-itis, Saying Good-bye

You've made it!!!!! You're at the top of the Cornell ranks, and feeling pretty much in your groove. If you're a traditional four-year student, the reality of the "Real World" is quickly approaching and you're beginning to accept that college life can't last forever... (exept for those grads, post docs, and faculty members...). So will you head straight into the work force? Go to Grad School? Join the Peace Corps? Join the Circus? Go back home? (Aggghh!) You may also be having some of the following thoughts: "Do I HAVE to leave Cornell?" "Is my education worth what I paid?" "Will I ever be able to pay back these student loans?" "Will I ever be able to get a job with this degree?" While these kinds of thoughts are normal, don't dwell on them too long. Be proactive when you can. (For example: try setting up meetings with professors, staff, or other professionals to learn what worked for them, and get pointers on how to set yourself up for success.) Otherwise, stay focused on the present moment, and enjoy the remainder of your undergraduate experience. If you haven't already, take time to explore every inch of Cornell. Take photographs of your favorite spots and the people you want to remember.

---

Transfer Tricks

While this is not your first year of college, your experience here may feel similar to that of a first-year student. (Read tips for the first year, listed above.) Chances are, this campus is very different from the one you left behind. Although you might be overwhelmed initially, the skills you developed to navigate your former campus will serve you here as well.  Because your formal orientation to campus will be short, it's imperitive to set aside the time throughout the first weeks of classes to get your bearings. (Explore the campus fully; get to know its resources, "hot spots," etc.). If you are among the majority of transfer students who will be living on-campus, get to know your residential community. Sign up to receive Denice Cassaro's "Community Events" e-mails that list upcoming campus events and activities. 

Graduate Grief

Surveys of Cornell Graduate and Professional students tell us the top sources of stress while earning advanced degrees include: the power differential in student-faculty relationships, funding, and support resources. Additionally, non-uniform procedures and program deadlines muddy the expectations for individual students within and between departments, as can varying responsibilities to family and friend relationships. One of the tricks to staying afloat during these years includes establishing supportive or mentoring relationships with others. Look for ways to continually gain insight into the culture of your field or discipline. Work on learning "the language" of your professors, mentors, and other professionals in the field. Use the campus resources to maintain balance in your life. (Check out Gannett's special pages for Grads...)

---

A person's a person, no matter what class they're in! 

Sometimes your class year won't matter at all! Our experiences, reactions, and responses do not always follow the linear progression as described above. These tips may be helpful to you during any of your "Cornell years" or beyond. Learning what stresses you, and taking steps to reduce that stress is important to your academic and personal success. Effective stress management is a lifelong learning experience.