Speak Up. Reach Out is Freshered's mental health initiative.
Throughout university it is hard to not compare yourself and your grades to other people. The pressure on student grades is ever looming but there are plenty of reasons to remain as relaxed as possible.
The pressure can come from the fact that many of your friends or coursemates are doing the same modules, and thus the same assignments and exams as you.
This can lead to you feeling a lot of pressure surrounding where you need to be, compared to your university friends or classmates.
This is a hard feeling to tackle as imposter syndrome and not feeling good enough may start to creep in. But the pressure on student grades should no drag you into a downward spiral and impact your wellbeing.
How To Relieve The Pressure On Uni Grades
The important thing you need to remember here is that you are at this specific university, and on this course, for a reason.
University is a hard stage of education to get into, and your application would have gone through a stringent process to see if you met the entry requirements.
You are in university because you have worked hard, and this is what you should compare yourself to – solely your own work compass.
Again, this is easier said than done. However, if you start by not asking every classmate their grades, their marks, or their comments they got on their latest report, then you can focus on what you need to improve and why.
Having other people’s expectations, results, and feedback swirling round your head can make you feel out of your depth, while also drawing focus away from what you need to do before the end of the academic year.
You may be really happy with a grade and then, after hearing someone else’s, feel slightly disheartened.
Stop this in its tracks by not finding out how other people have done and open your results in the comfort of your own room.
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Bullet Point Feedback
Having a pen and paper to hand to write specific bullet points notes, which you can then stick onto your wall, will help you reach your goals in a non-pressured situation. It is also without having your classmates’ eyes and ears all around you.
Furthermore, the use of office hours should really not be ignored. Your academic advisor or lecture being able to squash any potential queries or worries about your grades and course is an easy win.
They have staffed hours where you can go for specific feedback on your work weekly.
This is a great way to keep your stress levels low, without it peaking and becoming too much when you receive feedback or marks.
Prioritise Your Mental Health
Your mental health and wellbeing should be the priority here. Everyone has assignments that don’t go as well as they hoped, but this should not be the be all and end all.
People are there who you can talk to to redo an assignment and improve.
If you do feel your mental health is struggling, then university services offer a lot of student support.
This can mean extra time, or a one-on-one session if you are feeling quite overwhelmed and unsure where to go.
You are not alone in this feeling and help is there for you today.
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