How to cope with UVA’s perfectionist culture
Being happy and healthy is so much more important than some stigma
With every student’s drive to succeed and perfectionist attitude, the UVA environment for both academics and social life is intense. Not to say that I don’t love my school because trust me, I do, but dealing with family issues, arguments with a friend or boyfriend or the death of a loved one while trying to keep up with school work and activities at UVA is emotionally and physically exhausting.
Because of our school’s competitive nature, it’s easy to forget that making yourself happy should be your first priority. You won’t remember the C you got on your Econ midterm in 20 years, but you will remember whether or not you were happy throughout college.
I’m not saying you should put off all of your school work in order to lay in bed and watch Netflix, but sometimes we need to focus on what will make us happy in the moment instead of stressing about the future. Eat that pint of Ben and Jerry’s, and don’t feel bad about it! During stressful times, calories don’t count. On the other hand, if you’re like me and have absolutely no appetite when you’re anxious, plan lunch or dinner dates with friends to try to make eating meals easier.
If you’re experiencing the loss of a family member, a bad break-up or even anxiety about school work, don’t forget, you are not alone. Try to seek advice from friends or family, and don’t forget how important it is to communicate your feelings to them. Your friends and family care about you, and the best way to get through difficult times is by expressing how you feel because YOU matter. I have experienced this firsthand over the past month.
Because my grandmother is very sick, I have had to go home almost every weekend to spend time with her. Without the ability to talk to friends and to plan lunch and coffee dates with them throughout the week, I would not have been able to function. Professors and teaching assistants have also been extremely understanding of my situation, so don’t be afraid to contact them if you feel like you really can’t make it to class because of a personal issue.
Finally, If you ever at any point feel like you can’t see the end of the tunnel, utilize the University’s counseling service, CAPS. While so many students have a fear of seeking help for mental health issues, being happy and healthy is so much more important than some stigma.