Many people right after high school head to college to begin their life journey. But, what is college really like? People would describe college as being fun and exciting, but is that really the case? Most high school students expect college to be overwhelming or difficult. What do students expect in college? Parties? Late nights? Exams and paper analysis? This could be the life of a college student; it could be our college life. For some, they’ll be part time. Less time at school, more time to spend with others. Some will be full time. More time at school, less time to spend with others. Ms. Lindsey Sears, a teacher at Carbondale Community High School, talks about her struggles with college.  

“College had a big impact on my mental health because college felt like my whole life. I had a lot of pressure put on me because now I was paying for my own school to perform well, and so staying on top of things became challenging.”

Some students find it helpful and there are some that could find it very stressful. Nobody talks about how college can be stressful for most people. She continues to talk about her experiences as a student.

“Being a full time student did  have challenges because school took up so much of my time. But I also appreciated the community being a full time student gave me, being able to interact with my classmates and form those connections, ended up playing a big role in how I developed my support system. So, it ended up being helpful.”

College has many factors, some just have to start off with a bang.