Professor’s Perspective on Stress
Stress-management tips from Dr. Valarie Morgan
College can be stressful, but there are ways to cope!
In the case of college students, stress can build up due to many different reasons whether it be class load, grades, work-life balance, etc. The COVID pandemic has not helped this either.
What Can Be Done About Stress?
To answer this question, Dr. Valarie Morgan gives her advice on how students can manage stress.
Dr. Valarie Morgan developed a way to manage stress when she was in school. “One way that I managed stress during school was to look ahead and plan,” Morgan says.
She would plan for this by making a schedule which incorporated study habits that worked for her and also allowing enough time for fun and relaxation.
Her first piece of advice for students struggling due to a buildup of stress is to incorporate breaks into your schedule.
“We are not machines, and we must take care of our mental and physical health.” She adds, “This will not happen without intentionality.”
Dr. Morgan’s next piece of advice is to speak to your professors and let them know what is going on.
“We do our best to anticipate your difficulties, but sometimes the only way we know you are struggling is if you tell us,” she says. “Your professors care about your success and it is our priority to support you in your educational endeavors.”
Stress seems to be an inevitable part of our lives. We all may experience it in different ways and we also may have different ways that we deal with it.
The Take Away
Too much negative stress can be a bad thing, and it is important to find healthy ways to manage it. It is also important to remember that professors are there to make sure you succeed in your academic career. Sometimes, it can be difficult to open up when we are struggling.
If you need to reach out, try speaking with your professor or someone you trust or visit the counseling center on campus.
Collin Crosby was born in Greenville, Miss., on August 29, 1999, but moved to Carriere, Miss., when he was an infant and remained there throughout adolescence...