Jazlyn is a sophomore Pre-pharmacy Biology major from Fayetteville, Arkansas. In addition to being a Parent Ambassador, Jazlyn is a member of the college gospel choir the Inspirational Singers Chorale, and volunteers to read to younger students through the Volunteer Action Center Literacy Program. Jazlyn likes to be involved in her community and in her free time she loves to read.
Everyone has heard the saying that “college is the best four years of your life”. You, as a parent, probably told your student the same thing. This statement is completely true for the majority of college students however, I’m sure students would add that it is also the most stressful time of their life. College life can become quite overwhelming to your student because of the multiple assignments, exams, and book readings that are always due. You should remind your student that the University of Arkansas provides a variety of activities that they can take part in to relieve their minds from the stress that comes with college.
Exercise is the best stress reliever. The University of Arkansas has a facility called the HPER where students are able to workout with a swipe of their student ID card. The HPER is open Monday through Sunday, and your student has access to a variety of cardio, cycle, yoga and water fitness classes. Your students can also get involved with intramural sports through the HPER. There is also a facility located in the Arkansas Union called the UREC Fitness Center where students are able to workout on machines at their own pace. It’s open Monday through Friday. Advise your students to keep a healthy life style because a lack of physical activity can take a toll on them and raise their stress level.
Encourage your student to manage healthy eating and sleeping habits as well. The dining halls have a variety of foods to choose from, yet students tend to forget this because they are always on the move. It’s easier to grab a bag of chips and a soda and keep going. Advise your student to manage their time, so they are able to take a break to eat a healthy meal. Less procrastination and more planning will make it easier for your student to get well rested and charged up for the next day.
Another piece of advice that will help your student is to always set goals for themselves whether it’s short-term, long-term, or both. I do this, myself, on a weekly basis because it helps me keep my week balanced and organized. Making a list and checking off tasks when completed is a stress reliever in itself because your student will able to see their checklist become smaller and smaller reducing that overwhelming feeling.
The University of Arkansas also provides over 380 registered student organization (RRO’s) or clubs on campus. There are Greek, governing, international/cultural, professional/academic, religious, service/honorary, and special interest RSO’s. Your student can join as many as he or she would like. Being a part of a club surrounded by people who share the same interests as you can be relaxing to students because they are able to participate in activities that they love to do.
Stress is inevitable in college, but there are many ways your students can manage that stress to make college the best four years of their lives.