Kelsee Brady, managing editor
As my time at Berry nears to an end, I have become very introspective on the qualities that I value the most about this campus. In turn, this has led me to some unsettling conclusions about the flaws that Berry and every other college campus has.
The one downside of Berry is the main aspect that is highly campaigned to prospective students: the work opportunities. Berry students can have both on and off-campus once-in-a-lifetime experiences that assist them in securing jobs, internships and career goals in the future. The caveat of taking advantage of these opportunities is the additional responsibility that students take on.
The culture at Berry is one that fosters engagement and cultivates many possibilities. Berry encourages students to be fully involved in academics, student organizations and LifeWorks positions. Engaging with multiple aspects of campus is not an issue, but the cost that Berry students have from that can be detrimental to our mental health and perspective of success and failure.
A common phrase heard among faculty and students is “academics first” but the truth of the matter is that if Berry students put their academics first, we would never have time for work.
Even with the recent hour limits, students regularly participate in on-campus organizations and attend events that quickly consume the limited free time they have in the afternoons.
All of the work, academics and extracurricular responsibilities quickly add up until Berry students have no time to take care of themselves or do activities just for the sake of doing them.
The average Berry student generally comes from a high school background where they had high expectations for themselves and were branded an overachiever. Also, Berry professors have a high standard for work completed outside of class time. Typically, students forego necessities like sleep to accommodate for the amount of time required to complete these tasks.
In my experience, continuing to expect and reach that same level of achievement at Berry is possible, but it comes at an extreme cost. I have sacrificed so much of my mental health for grades that I still felt weren’t good enough.
As graduation has drawn closer, my perspective has shifted. The grades and accomplishments I used to want are not worth the toll they take on my mental health. I would rather put more of my energy and effort into taking care of myself, advancing my future and enjoying the work that I do on and off campus. After all, the occupational work that I am doing now is what will matter to future employers. The college you attend and the academic work you complete carry some weight but at the end of the day, your college education is only one line on your resume. Why would I sacrifice the enjoyment of my college experience and the satisfaction that I get from my work for one line on my resume?
One of the best qualities about the Berry community is just that, the community. The community I have felt since my first visit to campus consistently draws me in and allows me to stay at Berry. Without the friends, support and constant encouragement that I received from the “Berry Bubble,” I would be a drastically different person. Unfortunately, I didn’t become a part of this community through my academic classes. I built my community through the clubs I participated in, the committees I volunteered for and the jobs that I worked.
I don’t regret the lessened effort that I put into my classes because it allows me to enjoy the better things that Berry has to offer.