Olá! Welcome to my Dartmouth experience. My name is Adrian and I'm a '25 originally from Harare, Zimbabwe. I have an unquenchable thirst for tech, sustainability, economics, and nature, so I'm really looking forward to majoring in something that amalgamates the four—maybe a modified engineering major. Who knows? NOT ME. When I'm not attempting problem sets or reading Things Fall Apart, you can find me all over campus, exploring hidden gems and flooding my phone with random pictures.
When you leave home for college, you encounter new people, new experiences, new temptations, new fears, and new decisions, and you are no longer guided and protected by your parents. At the same time, it's thrilling, liberating, and terrifying. Knowing how to restore control is crucial when feeling overwhelmed, depressed, or anxious. Some options are listed below.
1. Take care of your health and happiness.
It is vital to take mental health breaks at any point. If you keep running yourself into the ground, you'll burn out. Getting outside almost always makes you feel less lonely, depressed, or manic. Physical and mental health have long been linked. Include nutritious food, physical activity, and social support in your daily life to promote psychological and physical wellness. Understanding the mind-body connection aids in the treatment of mental health care.
2. Managing your time
Academic success necessitates effective time management. Time, energy, and mental health are all things that must be handled. A time management tool helps you keep organized before your responsibilities pile up, which is excellent for your health.
3. Surround yourself with good people – Don't Isolate yourself
It can feel like you're the only one struggling with mental health difficulties in college, especially in today's society, where everyone wants to put their best foot forward on social media. Don't be afraid to talk to your friends, family, roommates, instructors, or anyone you trust. You'd be shocked how many individuals can relate to your situation and are willing to assist you. Go to class, see what clubs your school provides, sit next to some approachable people in the eating commons, ask your roommate if they want to go for a walk... In college, there are many possibilities to get out and meet new people.
4. Make use of mental health services.
For many students, obtaining mental health care from a counseling clinic often carries a stigma. However, seeking aid is a sign of strength, not weakness. Students must allow themselves and others the time and space to figure out how to best manage their mental health.
Dartmouth has so many opportunities for students to do, such as studying abroad or doing fellowships, but there are also smaller--yet still meaningful--opportunities for students to take advantage of while they are here.
As finals approach and my countdown for winter break, I reflect on my first term here as a Dartmouth student–the traditions, classes, routines, and connections that have defined my first-year fall.
Here is my last blog post for this term, so I wanted to end it on a positive note. Here are the best moments from 22F, my favorite term at Dartmouth so far!
