I am the director of Student Psychological Services, and I want
to welcome all students to UCLA, both new and returning. The start
of the new academic year is a time of transition for all students.
There is excitement in the air as well as apprehension. You will be
meeting new friends, tackling new personal and intellectual
challenges, and learning new skills. Many new students feel lost
and overwhelmed by the size of UCLA and become very stressed by the
competition.
The fall quarter is also a time of loss, particularly for new
students who are leaving behind family and friends and a familiar
structure. New students often feel a twinge of homesickness.
Keeping regular contact with family and friends as well as
involving yourself in the various activities that UCLA has to offer
can help ease the transition. There are clubs, activities and new
friends available if you only reach out. Many student affairs
offices are available to help you get started. There is The Center
for Women and Men, the Center for Student Programming, Cultural and
Recreational Affairs, the Dean of Students’ Office, the Ashe
Center and Student Psychological Services, to name only a few.
Returning students also experience a mixture of feelings as the
fall quarter begins. Students in their last year begin to feel a
sense of loss as they anticipate leaving UCLA. They often question
their ability to get a decent job at graduation or of getting into
the “right” graduate program. For many students, there
is often a feeling of dread of “another year” of hard
work, competition, stress and sometimes disappointment. The
disappointments vary: Not doing as well as expected; not having the
“fun” expected in college; not making friends and
feeling lonely and isolated. Many students feel uncertain about
their choice of major and/or feel conflict with parental
expectations regarding their chosen area of study.
The point is that the university experience for the majority of
students is a mixed bag. There are many opportunities and there are
many pitfalls. Each quarter and each year present their own unique
challenges to students. Levels of stress vary during the quarters,
peaking as midterms and finals approach. The level of stress also
tends to increase as the academic year moves on.
Managing stress and leading a healthy lifestyle are extremely
important to your success at UCLA. Good eating habits, good
sleeping habits, learning how to relax, learning how to structure
and manage your time, and healthy exercise routines are all very
important. Avoid pulling “all-nighters” ““ they
are seldom useful and disrupt your sleep cycle, which only adds to
your stress level. Avoid excess alcohol and caffeine. Most
importantly, develop and maintain a social support system. Feeling
connected to family, friends, classmates and UCLA will play a vital
role in your well-being. Many of the student affairs offices
mentioned above can also help.
Finally, I want to extend the services of SPS and Helpline to
each of you if things begin to feel unmanageable. It is no disgrace
to recognize your need for assistance and to seek it out. SPS
provides counseling and workshops and is staffed by highly trained
professionals. Helpline is a telephone counseling service staffed
by volunteers who know the strains of university life. For
locations and phone numbers, please visit our Web site at
www.saonet.ucla.edu/sps.htm. We also have a series of brochures
online with many helpful tips on subjects of interest to
students.
Pruett is the director of Student Psychological
Services.