The Fear of the Unknown
Mitigating Future Uncertainty to Decrease Anxiety
By Gabi Drobot, Staff Writer
The balancing act that college students endure is an amplifier for stress. On top of the daily stressors that college students face, constant uncertainty about the future is common and takes over students’ minds.
College is constantly referred to as the best four years of one’s life. Still, not many speak up about the difficulty of remaining in the present moment and indulging without worrying about what will happen next.
“I have changed my major twice already and I am not completely sure that I know what I want to do,” said Olivia Mannino, a junior. “It’s really frustrating not being able to make that decision, and it constantly weighs on me daily.”
Uncertainty affects all ages in colleges, whether it is deciding what one wants to major in or where one wants to live after graduation. The feeling is prominent and difficult to rectify.
“I constantly get asked what my plans are after college,” said Sam Russo, a junior. “Whenever I explain that I’m not sure, I feel like I get judged for not having it all figured out.”
The expectation of knowing precisely what the future will look like is unrealistic and unattainable. It is hard to predict how everything will turn out in the years to come whether professionally, socially, or environmentally such as COVID-19.
“It is almost unreal to think that this time next year, the world could be entirely different,” said Melanie Watts, a senior. “I stress about my future professionally, but after COVID, I find myself worrying about the uncertainty of the world.”
A significant takeaway from the COVID-19 pandemic is the understanding that the world can change instantly. The future seems entirely planned for some individuals, However circumstances like COVID-19 can change it in an instant. It is essential to learn how to manage expectations to lower the added stress it may bring to a student’s daily life.
Although the mind may wander into worrying about the unknown, it is crucial to change focus. A great practice to help remain in the present is to write down all one’s worries and cross out things out of one’s control. This helps put into perspective what you can rectify at that moment rather than worrying about something that is not within one’s control.
