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Kristin Jury

December 5th, 2017

Final Draft

English 111

Intawiwat

Why College Students Most Struggle In Pursuit of Their Goals

Every college student is different, everyone has their own goals. Not everyone even

chooses to go to college. Sometimes your goals change, one day you may think you want to be a

doctor and the next you might decide you want to be an accountant. No matter what major you

choose, so much work is required. Years of school, focusing, staying on topic. So many college

kids struggle every day in college because of their lack of focus, communication skills and being

too caught in the social life. Everyone knows that kids want to go to these big universities for the

parties. Studies show, every year more than 380,000 students fail out of college in the United

States. Failing college can seriously ruin your life. Not only do you let yourself down, but your

family, friends. Your parents spent all that money on tuition for you to fail. Failing college can

lower your self-esteem and just do serious damage.

Schoolwork in high school is nothing like it is in college. High school was so much easier

compared to college. I look back and regret ever being stressed in high school, there was

seriously nothing to be stressed about. Teachers were so much more laid back, they would take

late assignments just so you could get the grade, and college is not like that. Well actually I take

that back, it just depends on the teacher. But nine times out of ten, your professor is not going to

take late assignments. From my personal experience, I wish my high school would have prepared

me more for college. That is a big problem for college kids now. They had it way too easy in

high school and are not mentally prepared for college. Some may have to remedial programs to

make up for it.

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A lot of college kids choose the wrong university to go too. They have their mind set on

only one school and it turns out it was the complete wrong one. It may be there are too many

people, too much partying, or just the wrong environment and atmosphere. Social activities are

very important, but mature students will put their school work before other activities. Just

because you love the beach, doesnt mean Wilmington is the perfect school for you. Or just

because you love snow, doesnt mean Appalachian State is the right school for you. Thats why I

personally think going to a community college a year or two is the best option not only because

you save money, but it gives you more time to decide what university you want to transfer to and

make sure its the right decision. I interviewed a good friend of mine, John, he attended

Appalachian State because he loved Boone, he loved cold weather, and they had a great business

school. He started off very well, was getting As and loved the school and thought he made the

right choice. Well, he got involved with the wrong crowd, moved out of his dorm to move in

with his friend that had his own apartment. The friend he moved in with was a very bad

influence. John ended up failing all of his classes first semester because he started taking drugs.

Sometimes parents put a lot of pressure on their kids about going to college and getting a

good education because maybe they didnt go and they want better for their kid. College isnt for

everyone though. Some kids end up having many difficulties whether its not doing their work,

not focused or failing because they felt like they were forced to go. If a student doesnt

understand the importance of their education and studying then they are not going to be very

successful in college. Stress plays such a strong role in so many people's lives, especially college

students. Its so hard keeping up with your social life and school work. You have to decide

whether or not you want to go to this huge party you heard is going on or are you going to stay in

and write a paper you have due the next day. You cant do both and thats when your maturity
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level starts to show. Not only are students stressed about their social life, but a lot of it is the

professors. Some professors give so much work that you just cant keep up. Its hard enough

following along in class but the assignments build up so fast and its very overwhelming.

According to a 2008 mental health study by the Associated Press and mtvU, eight in 10 college

students say they have sometimes or frequently experienced stress in their daily lives over the

past three months. The best strategies to cope with stress are work ahead, dont wait until a night

before something is due to work on something, and most importantly, put your schoolwork first.

It makes students more stressed doing stuff the night before.

Goal setting is an important part of succeeding in college. Everyone needs to have goals.

If you dont set any goals for yourself then why are you even in college? Staying positive and

having a good attitude is key. Nobody said college was easy and there will probably be many

times where you will be stressed, confused, lost, etc. You cant let all the parties and social

events get in the way your education. You cant also cant let any relationships stand in your way

either. More than likely those relationships and friendships will not last and they wont care if

you fail. Everyone is out for themselves. The most important thing is you at this point in your life

because not only are you trying to make your parents proud, this is also your life, your career. If

you dont set goals and you goof off and fail, its on you.
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Works Cited:

Cause of Failure in College. Causes of Failure, The University of Alabama Center for

Academic Success,

www.ctl.ua.edu/CTLStudyAids/StudySkillsFlyers/GeneralTips/causesoffailure.htm.

Headley, Kristel W. Predicting Anxiety, Depression, Stress, and Psychological Well-being of

Missionary Kids (MKs) Repatriating to the United States to Attend College, Regent University, Ann

Arbor, 2012, ProQuest Central,

http://ezproxy.cpcc.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1010744809?accountid=100

08.

Wang, Jianli, et al. "A Population-Based Study on Ways of Dealing with Daily Stress:

Comparisons among Individuals with Mental Disorders, with Long-Term General Medical Conditions

and Healthy People." Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, vol. 44, no. 8, 2009, pp. 666-74,

ProQuest Central,

http://ezproxy.cpcc.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/236160647?accountid=1000

8, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0482-2.

Gilroy, Marilyn. "The Great Stress-Out on Campus; Gaining Attention and Action."The Hispanic

Outlook in Higher Education, vol. 15, no. 21, Jul 18, 2005, pp. 22, ProQuest Central,

http://ezproxy.cpcc.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/219232078?accountid=1000

8.
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