While adjusting to living in a confining dormitory like those of East Halls, new freshmen are forced to acclimate from a coddling and personal academic environment of high school to an unforgiving jungle that embodies that of college. Here, where one single assignment could mean the difference between an A and a C in the class, freshmen must swiftly muster the discipline to manage their time efficiently enough to study while simultaneously establish a brand new social life. This intimidating task only begets further distractions to detract from studies, piling on top of the temptations of attending sporting events, concerts, plays, and club recruitment events. Students must assimilate early enough to prevent this incessant cycle from snowballing beyond control, and the antidote can be realized through the maintenance of personal health.

Although it might seem negligible among the many things slopped across your plate, maintaining proper mental and physical health is absolutely crucial to a successful college career. Wellness serves as the foundation on which all aspects of college life are situated, from studying to socializing. A 2015 American College Health Association study reported that about forty four percent of students “felt tired, dragged out, or sleepy during the day,” while about twenty three percent reported “sleepiness during daytime activities as more than a little problem.” (ACHA 2015). Students tend to neglect sleep, sometimes to pull all-nighters and study, yet sleep deprivation has been correlated to lower GPAs “because sleep affects concentration, memory, and the ability to learn” (Campus Mind). Sleep additionally alleviates stress and even helps maintain a healthy diet, aiding the prevention of the infamous and dreaded freshman fifteen. Molly Kimball, a registered dietitian and sports nutritionist at the Oschner Clinic, cites eating as “a way to exert control for many freshmen when they feel little control in many areas of their lives” (Freshman 15 Means More than Weight Gain). In students’ free time, they often disregard exercise, as it is overshadowed by temptations to socialize or sleep. The aforementioned American College Health Association study concluded that about forty-seven percent of students satisfy the physical activity guidelines recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Beyond obvious reasons like maintaining body weight and cardiovascular health, regular exercise is shown to support emotional wellbeing by relieving stress. Physical activity also provides energy to power through a demanding schedule. Although these statistics all reinforce that personal health as essential to each student’s career, many still seem to neglect taking care of themselves.