Academic pressure and overloaded schedules are major factors leading to student burnout. Many students, including myself, have a lot going on outside of school. Each semester, I take a heavy course load, and it can be exhausting. I keep going because my goal is to graduate and have a good job that allows me to do what I have always dreamed of.
It is not really ACU’s fault, but a lot of classes are only offered during certain times of the year, like fall or spring. Because of that, students often have to pack their schedules to stay on track. Even with tutoring and other resources, it can be hard to get help before burnout sets in. By the time a student realizes they are overwhelmed, they are already behind. Burnout can lead to anxiety, depression, and feeling mentally and physically drained. A lot of students stay quiet because they feel like they just have to keep pushing through.
This is not just my experience. According to the Healthy Minds Study, about 41 percent of college students report symptoms of depression, and around 36 percent experience moderate to severe anxiety. The study also found that over 60 percent of students were dealing with at least one mental health challenge at some point. Seeing numbers like that makes it clear how common this struggle really is. College is harder than high school, and managing all of these responsibilities at once is exhausting.
Another issue is that not every professor understands the challenges students face outside of class. Some are supportive, but others can be dismissive. I have had a professor compare our workload to that of his high school-age kids and say that if they can stay up past midnight to finish their homework, then we can too. Comments like that make students feel unheard and unsupported.
College comes with heavier workloads, higher expectations, and real-life responsibilities. I am not saying students should not do homework, but professors should not assign work they know cannot realistically be completed in the time given. Professors should also take into account that when there is a break, such as fall break or spring break, those days should be reserved for students to rest and recharge. Students should not be assigned extra work or homework over these breaks.
Overall, my experience at ACU has been really great, but the reality is that students like me often have to carry a busy schedule just to stay on track. I am currently taking 17 credit hours, and the exhaustion is real. At my job, I work around 45 hours per week and still have to find time to manage my school work. Many students are struggling to keep up and feel mentally and physically tired.
At the end of the day, I am not saying ACU is doing a bad job. I love it here, and I am grateful for the opportunities I have had. But we have to be honest about what students are going through. A lot of us are tired. A lot of us are trying our best to manage everything at once.
ACU can encourage healthier academic expectations by reminding professors that students have responsibilities outside of class. Professors can help by being more flexible and understanding when it comes to workload and timing, and by making sure that breaks are truly breaks without assigning extra work.
Students want to learn and succeed, but we are also trying not to burn out in the process. We need a little more balance and a little more understanding. The goal should not be to just survive college but to actually grow through it.
