For Michal Stawowczyk, winter in the Valley is a favorite season. The computer science junior says he enjoys the warm temperatures and lack of winter storms aO" a far cry from the rain and snow of Everett, Wash., where he used to live.
But that doesn't mean that Stawowczyk doesn't suffer from the winter blues in Arizona. He says that Tempe traffic can be just as frustrating as the delays due to blizzards he used to experience during his commutes to Seattle. And as a transfer student, the different procedures to register for classes at ASU leave him stressed.
Stawowczyk is not alone. Many ASU students experience stress at this time of the year. Jessie Garcia, a psychologist at Counseling and Consultation at the Tempe campus, says winter stress can be caused by multiple factors. Garcia says that some students may suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder and serious depression, conditions which should be taken seriously. But most students deal with everyday stressors that get worse at the start of a semester.
Sadness over loss of security and familiarity for students who went home for the holidays and returned to school is one of the main stress factors, Garcia says.
Stawowczyk, who spent a week in Seattle with friends and family, says that it was hard for him to come back and start school.
Other factors include anxiety about academic performance this semester if the first semester was more challenging than students expected. "It can be a combination of non-resolved issues from the past, or not performing [academically] as well as the student expected," Garcia says.
Some students find it stressful when the classes they need to register for are full. Stawowczyk says difficulty finding academic advisers during winter break contributed to his stress. "I still haven't met with my adviser, and not knowing if I'll get in the classes I want really makes me nervous," he adds.
Losing friends is another source of anxiety. Students who have friends who graduated last semester or who aren't returning to school may feel sad at the loss of those relationships.
In addition, seniors like Deviki Gupta may feel sad about the impending loss of college student identity. Gupta, a marketing major, says she has mixed feelings about her May graduation. She is planning on going to work in India with her mother, who has a start-up company, upon getting her bachelor's degree.
"I'll miss student life and meeting new people," Gupta says. "On the other hand, I am happy to go back to Delhi."
For students experiencing any of these stressors, there's good news. Counselors say that when February rolls around, many students will experience optimism. But if feelings of depression or stress don't go away or affect your ability to function, it may help to talk with a counselor.
"I want students to look at Counseling and Consultation as one of the many ways to get them feeling better," Garcia says.
Reach the reporter at: ljiljana.ciric@asu.edu.
Here's help for seasonal stress
Are you experiencing:
1. Sadness that some of your friends graduated?
2. Worries that life will change when you graduate?
3. Fear of facing the "real world?"
4. Shame or anxiety because you feel that you underperformed the first semester?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may be experiencing winter blues. Refer to the suggestions below to start out your new year with less stress.
1. Talk to your friends who have already graduated on a regular basis, so you don't lose touch.
2. If you're graduating in May, start looking for job opportunities now.
3. Think of graduation as a step forward. Don't be afraid of what's next.
4. If you didn't do well last year, make an extra effort this semester to do your personal best. Establish relationships with other classmates and your instructors so help is always easily accessible.
