As midterm grades begin to finalize, students are quick to feel the pressure of school, work and extracurricular activities pile on. This kind of stress can sometimes be overwhelming for students. Island Waves was able to talk to students about different ways they cope with the pressures.

“Midterms are a stressful time because it is test after test, or tests are all in the same day, and I felt like I did not know how to space out how much studying to do for each class since everything was all at once,” says Brittany Diaz, a junior at TAMU-CC.

Diaz is a busy bee kind of gal, with two jobs, school and her puppy Luna to take care of, it can get kind of stressful during midterm weeks.

“Luckily, one of my jobs is with the school so I get to do my homework and most of my studying done there,” says Diaz. “Having two jobs has helped me manage my time better. …at first it was hard getting used to all of that, but over time you get into a rhythm.”

Diaz mentioned that when she has time, a stress reliever that has helped her cope with the tensions of her busy schedule is going window shopping. When the weekend finally arrives, and she is able to catch her breath, the beach suits as her perfect getaway.

Midterm stress can sometimes get the best of someone, the overwhelming pressures to maintain that letter grade can sometimes alter someone’s eating, sleep and exercise schedule. Which is why it is important for students to know they have access to resources that can help when dealing with stressful situations.

TAMU-CC offers counseling services that are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 11:30 am and from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. They even have a specific segment called “Academic Success Counseling,” where a counselor can get one on one with a student and help build a plan that can boost their academic success. The counselors help with test anxiety, procrastination, time management and stress management among other things.

However, students should know that they can also help with other serious situations, for instance they offer psychotherapy, psychological screenings and assessment, as well as outreach programs and workshops.

If you, or anyone needs counseling, make sure to call (361) 825-2703 for more information.