Lauren Carnes, Campus Carrier online editor
According to the American College Health Association, over 80% of college students feel overwhelmed, and more than 60% say stress affects their academic performance. Unfortunately, burnout is no longer an outbreak once or twice a semester for students. Rather, it has become an epidemic of sorts; it is the background noise, the baseline, the unspoken norm. It is something commonly joked about through social media meme posts. However, underneath this use of humor as a coping mechanism lies a culture that is quietly breaking students down. Even more regrettable is the fact that this has become normalized; we are told it is necessary.
Today, college students are operating under an infernal paradox, as it is expected that we do everything, be everything and do it successfully without crumbling. In fact, the average Berry student is typically tackling full course loads, internships, jobs, leadership positions and social lives while also working to maintain their physical and mental well-being. High expectations do not solely exist in the context of higher education; they are ingrained in our nation’s culture. We reward personal achievement and individualism, efficiency, capitalism and hustle culture. This is only exacerbated by things like systemic pressure and social media comparisons.
It is important to recognize that burnout is exhibited in more areas than those of missed deadlines and lack of sleep. It can also manifest as chronic anxiety, depression, emotional exhaustion and disengagement. Colleges have indeed begun to acknowledge this issue. However, I would argue that their solutions are not sufficient to meet the needs of the students. For example, Berry offers counseling services to students, but students frequently find that the Counseling Center is overbooked. Self-care workshop gatherings and wellness weeks are appreciated, but these gestures do not eliminate the fact that overachievement is incessantly demanded. The reality is that chronic burnout cannot be mitigated solely by some breathing exercises and unremitting deadlines.
How are we to remedy this issue? I propose a shift in not only policy but also in mindset. It should be standard for colleges to build mental health days into their academic calendars, similar to how the workplace builds in sick days. It could also be beneficial for professors and staff to undergo training to be able to perceive signs of burnout and struggle in students. It might also be of value to reframe our mindsets and notions of what success looks like. Success is not linear, and it certainly does not look the same for everyone. We should be mindful of how our culture treats enervation as a mark of distinction/a symbol of pride; we should not be sacrificing sleep, skipping meals and overcommitting ourselves far beyond our capabilities.
After all, we did not pursue higher education merely just to obtain a degree; it is an opportunity for individuals to grow, connect with a diverse group of peers and colleagues and build the foundations for the remainder of our lives. We are exhausted, and we deserve better than a system that considers that normal.