University life seems to be a cherished memory and a pleasant experience for the majority of students, though it is not without its challenges. People's circumstances are different, however there are some issues which almost every student may experience at certain points throughout their time in university.
Nurul, a student who is in her final year of university mentioned that she has met many kinds of people while navigating her university life during her early 20s.
‘I have learned a lot of things from those I met and I am always grateful for the lessons and memories they gave me. All of us face different situations and circumstances but I do think that most of us have experienced academic stress, mental health issues, time pressure, social problems and lack of money while studying.’
Anxiety and stress, she states, can be seen as the major factor which contributes to most of the problems affecting the students. The Covid-19 pandemic has led this issue into a serious manner as it affects students' mental health and well-being even more.
‘Most of us tend to overthink and are always afraid of being left out. Having lots of friends can be a blessing but once the conflict arises, it distresses us and thus adds to our stress level. Especially during the Covid-19 pandemic which has led most of us to feel anxious, worried and depressed most of the time as some of us are having social problems dealing with new environments, new classmates and not knowing who they are dealing with, especially new students who have been recently admitted into university.’
There are also many students who have been facing sudden financial issues and are not able to keep up with the expectation given to them for their studies.
Seeking help from university counsellors and professional support can somehow ease the students' burden to help them feel at ease during their struggles and to guide them to get back on track.
#MOJOKitabySM #SuaraMasyarakat #CommunityVoices
This MOJO content was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union, Internews,or SOLS 247 or NGOhub.