College is an amazing step in the right direction for many people and presents many great opportunities that can lead to success in their future endeavors. College is also a great time to make new friends, create connections, and find your passions. However, this does not mean college doesn’t present challenges as well. All college students deal with challenges differently. Depending on how someone deals with challenges can dictate how successful they are. Some people thrive by experiencing increased focus and motivation in times of pressure whereas others may procrastinate, perform poorly in classes, and turn to substances in hopes of relieving stress.
Unfortunately, college students often place their mental and physical well-being last in terms of priority when they become stressed out.
Tony Woo Jr., Youth Advisory Committee Member
As a full-time college student studying to obtain a bachelor’s degree, flight training, being active in four clubs on campus, and trying to balance a social life while also staying connected with my family a thousand miles away, I understand how hard it can be to maintain good physical and mental health without caving into the common peer-pressures of drugs and alcohol. Unfortunately, college students often place their mental and physical well-being last in terms of priority when they become stressed out. It should be the other way around. If you are trying to perform well in anything, your physical and mental state needs to be healthy and needs to come first.
Having good physical and mental health is something we should all strive for because it not only makes us look good and feel good, but it also helps us handle stress significantly better as well as perform better in difficult situations. Good physical and mental health is not easy in college, but it is possible with focus and effort.
I try to overcome a busy college schedule by maintaining good mental and physical health. By getting sufficient sleep, having a healthy diet, exercising, planning well, not procrastinating, having fun, and staying connected with the Mentor Foundation, I am able to do just that. This helps me to stay focused on my goals and makes me feel accomplished.