HARRISBURG, Pa. — As college students head back to class this week, many say they're returning with different emotions.
“I’ll admit there has been a little bit of that nervous energy but its also been a lot of excitement,” said Noah Rice, a Mechanicsburg freshman at Harrisburg University.
He says the new experiences that college brings help drown out negative emotions.
But things are a lot different for a sophomore transfer student at Harrisburg University, who says she’s feeling the pressure to do better.
“I was really procrastinating and cramming on a lot of my work and it didn’t turn out so good for me,” said Journey Barksdale.
This year she has a plan to succeed.
“I will admit I am a little anxious for this school year but after learning what I went through at Temple [University], I always keep in the back of my head, don’t be afraid to ask for help,” said Barksdale.
She also says the library and the Student Union are the perfect places to wind down and combat anxiety.
Melissa Morgan, the associate vice president of student services at Harrisburg University, says students face a wide variety of emotions and questions as they think about what the new school year will bring.
“Are they going to make friends? Are the classes going to be really hard? Are they prepared to be independent and living on their own?” said Morgan.
Morgan says it's normal to feel anxious when starting school but when someone is becoming less social and has a decrease in appetite, sleep, and hygiene, they may need to take advantage of school counseling resources or prioritize self-care.
“Deep breathing, mindfulness, going out for long walks around City Island, having great food with friends, connecting with peers, calling friends, family, loved ones and making sure that they’re remaining connected,” said Morgan.