My family wasn’t like very wealthy, but at least I don’t need to worry about anything during my childhood. I know the world is a tough place, but I don’t need to deal with all the problems alone.
During the first year of covid, I graduate from high school, I studied at a national college in my own country (Taiwan) first. However, I always wanted to leave my hometown and explore the world. At the same time, I also got accepted by Penn State as well, and during that time my family financial is able to afford me to study aboard for 4 years with all the living expenses and tuition. After one semester in Taiwanese college, I came to Penn State and continue my school career. The first semester of my college was amazing. I got everything I want it, a perfect relationship, a high GPA, and lots of friends. Everything was exactly like my dream, but this is the same time when everything goes down. One day during a phone call with my family, they told me that because covid cut down the business and lots of opportunities are lost it. My family wouldn’t be afford my tuition for long anymore. The most they can do will be one more year after the fall semester and I won’t be able to study at Penn State. The moment I hear this news I instantly feel the raise in my heart rate, I start sweating heavily, and my brain can’t function for a while due to the function of the sympathetic nervous system (Sapolsky 2008). At that moment I was in a fight or flight situation and most of the blood in my body went to my limb instead of my brain. “I wasn’t ready to lose everything I have”, that was the only thing in my brain. It was devastating news for me. After the phone call, I instantly feel weak and dizzy, and my leg feels dull. I sit on the chair and feel nothing but frustrated (University of Toledo, ). I wasn’t able to go back to my old university because I gave up my student status there, and it is the best university in Taiwan. I give up that opportunity and come here.
After a while, due to the parasympathetic nervous system, my heart rate goes back to a normal range, my muscle feels less tense and, I became calmer (Sapolsky 2008). I started to think of solutions to the situation I’m in. I know I still have one more year to study and I was in the first semester of my sophomore year at that moment; it will be almost impossible for me to make enough money for my tuition because I am an international student (we pay a higher rate compared to local and outstate student). The only way for me to have a diploma from Penn State will be to graduate in the next year. In another word, graduating from college uses only 2.5 years in total. The moment the solution popped out I have to say I feel despair, and my mood go down a hill because it was basically impossible for me to do that. During that semester, every time when I have a good time I’ll think I am going to lose this in a short time and won’t be able to enjoy the moment. Lucky enough, one time I was having a meeting with my advisor, I realize that I will be able to transfer my old college credits to Penn State. Another lucky thing is that in my country, we take 25-30 credits per semester. The credit that I can use at Penn State is 17, which saves me a semester. Because I work at the campus, it provides me SSN. I will be able to take classes at a community college online class with a lower cost. With the summer semester system, I took world-campus classes at a lower cost (saving almost 10k). At the same time take 18 credits before graduating, and I will be able to graduate. After all the calculations and meetings with the advisor, it is possible for me to do it. I just need to implement it well.
After knowing I still have a chance it did make me less stressed. At least I have a shot to do it. This takes my mindset to a different condition. Before my mood was usually anxious or depressed(American Psychological Association), all I see is I will have nothing. However, when I am working right now and feel tired or lazy, I think about what I have to do to get what I want. my sympathetic nervous system produces adrenaline in this situation and makes me more focused and complete my work. (Cleveland Clinic, 2022)
During the time I received the stressor (the bad news), according to the reading I was in the first stage of general adaptation syndrome. Which is the alarm stage. At this time, my heart rate raises, and start sweating because my body enters the fight or flight response and the sympathetic nervous system lets me have those physical responses. (Sapolsky 2008)When the call ended, I immediately feel fatigued and calmer(Sapolsky ). This is because I enter the resistance stage, and the parasympathetic nervous system reduces my heart rate(Chelsea Long, 2021). Before I have a plan, I was in the exhaustion stage for weeks. Every once in a while I will feel anxious and don’t know what should I do. Especially I don’t like to talk to other people about my own feeling, and it only makes it worse. Right now when the thing has a solution I feel way easier and know that I am extremely lucky. Right now I need to fight for what I want.
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Apa Dictionary of Psychology. American Psychological Association. Retrieved May 29, 2022, from https://dictionary.apa.org/general-adaptation-syndrome
Epinephrine (adrenaline): What it is, function, deficiency & side effects. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2022, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22611-epinephrine-adrenaline
How the parasympathetic nervous system can lower stress. Hospital for Special Surgery. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2022, from https://www.hss.edu/article_parasympathetic-nervous-system.asp
Counseling center. The University of Toledo. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2022, from https://www.utoledo.edu/studentaffairs/counseling/anxietytoolbox/breathingandrelaxation.html