Just Do It!

College students will experience mental health issues during their time spent in a university. Mental wellness is not always a priority when attending a university because of how big it is. Some college students deal with mental health issues because of their financial burdens or personal struggles they deal with outside of their college campus. For me, I realized it was hard to find a sense of belonging as a commuter. Because I would come to class and hardly stay after hours to enjoy the resources/centers CSULA offered. I also was applying to jobs because I needed to make money, but my schedule was too difficult to work with. So, that’s when the stress started to grow because I felt the effects it took on my body. Therefore, I started to look at things I could do on campus after my last class ended. I found workshops offered by the Educational Opportunity Program for first-generation students. They offered many different types of workshops some were interactive and full of activities and others were very formal and helpful. I created a balance and attended to both formal and interactive workshops. Many of these workshops are hosted in different buildings but mostly in Salazar Hall or King Hall. My favorite one was named “Free the Child Within” because we got to do elementary school things like coloring and playing with play-doh right before finals week. I recommend workshops offered at CSULA by any program because they helped relieve my stress. I also met a lot of new people you gain many unforgettable connections and experiences so just do it!