Words by Tevin McKenzie
Monday, October 21, 2024
Photo courtesy of Pexels
As midterms approach at City College, students are navigating the pressures of exams and projects. Their experiences reflect a troubling trend highlighted by the recent Inside Higher Ed Student Voice survey, which reveals a significant rise in mental health concerns among college students. The research found two in five students say their mental health is impacting their ability to focus, learn and perform academically “a great deal,” and one in 10 students rate their mental health as “poor.”
CCNY students say they are noticing the weight of the impending midterm season. Miguel Rodriguez, a junior, who is majoring in communications, admitted to feeling overwhelmed as deadlines drew closer. "I'm not ready," Rodriguez confessed.
Samuel Lalman, also a junior, said he felt less overwhelmed than worried about managing his time. An accumulation of assignments is contributing to his growing sense of unease. "I’m a little worried and stressed out," said Lalman, who studies science learning. "I have a lot of projects I need to start."
Despite the challenges, students are finding support among their peers. Rodriguez said he appreciated the importance of staying connected during stressful periods. "We check up on each other from time to time," he said about students in his network.
Lalman shared a similar sentiment, explaining that his informal support system fosters a sense of community during a demanding time. "We talk to each other and ask if they need help with any of their work or how their semester is going," Lalman said.
Looking for other ways to cope, Rodriguez turns to painting, while Lalman writes task lists to stay organized. Neither of these students said they took advantage of the mental health services the college offers. Though CCNY frequently shares information about counseling and wellness programs via email, Rodriguez said he hadn’t seen the correspondence. Lalman, though aware of the resources, believes more could be done. "It would be nice if we had people come during class and maybe talk about some of the benefits that CCNY has," he suggested.
Kristine Mantilla, a junior majoring in communications, offered her perspective: "I think a lot of students either don’t know about the mental health services or don’t prioritize them because we’re all so focused on getting through the work,” she said. “But the truth is, we really need that support, especially during stressful periods like midterms."
For students who require mental health resources, especially during midterm week, CCNY offers counseling services and wellness programs. You can contact the counseling center by emailing counseling@ccny.cuny.edu (include your phone number to expedite appointments), calling (212) 650-8222, or stopping by the office in Marshak J15. The office is open Monday to Friday, from 9 AM to 5 PM, with walk-in hours from 1 PM to 3 PM. For more information, visit the CCNY Counseling Center website.
