Managing Back-to-School Stress
By Sara Silverman
March 4, 2025
Change often sparks feelings of anxiety and the start of a new semester especially raises stress levels for many students. After a long winter break, the idea of getting back into the swing of things may seem daunting. With academic, social and personal pressures, students face exciting yet nerve-wracking moments ahead.
Olivia Mays, Mental Health and Stress Management Program Coordinator for the University of Maryland, discussed the reality of how stressful getting back to school can be while validating that it is a “natural response.”
“Stress is a normal part of the human experience,” Mays said. “It's also a good reminder that sometimes stress can also come from some of our physical health concerns, stress can also contribute to physical health concerns.”
Although stress may at times feel unbearable, there are ways to prevent feeling too overwhelmed and strategies to help cope with anxiety. Mays along with UMD students suggest using planners or calendars to track specific tasks. Time management in general is a key component to regulating one’s stress.
Yoni Arzt, junior kinesiology major, has practiced learning how to balance his heavy workload, extracurricular responsibilities and social outings. After his freshman year, he learned that organization is essential.
“Make sure you’re organized,” Arzt said. “Make sure you take account of when you have to do assignments, when you have to study for exams and stay on top of everything because if you fall behind, it could become very stressful.”
Another student, Hilary Gotlieb, sophomore special education major, also emphasized the importance of utilizing her resources to stay on top of her responsibilities. As a member of executive boards of several organizations and clubs, she mentioned how she feels grateful to be in a major with attentive and helpful advisors.
“It’s really good to always feel like I have an advisor who can support me,” Gotlieb said. “I try to not overwork myself, and I know when enough is enough.”
Mays encourages students to utilize campus resources and talk about stress with others rather than repressing it. According to Mays, a website with all UMD mental health resources was launched last semester to advertise all the opportunities UMD has to offer.
While understanding that it can be intimidating to speak to a stranger or attend a mindfulness event, Mays reassures students that there are options for everyone, including free one-on-one counseling that is completely confidential.
“Our entire goal here on campus is to support students in really all aspects of their well-being and not just focusing on academics but also helping them navigate through other life stressors,” Mays said. “Seeking help is not anything to ever be embarrassed about…when we seek help, we build that sense of connection.”
While beginnings in general can be stressful, the start of a new semester is also filled with excitement. When reminiscing about his past two and a half years of college, Artz said “I think that you can often take something too seriously, and that can be detrimental to your success.”
Learning how to manage one’s stress is a continuous pursuit. College is the perfect time to begin figuring out what works best for you. “As we experience new stressors and new experiences in life, we sometimes have to shift our coping strategies and acknowledge the ones that are no longer working for us… and that’s okay,” Mays said.
Olivia Mays, Mental Health and Stress Management Program Coordinator for the University of Maryland, discussed the reality of how stressful getting back to school can be while validating that it is a “natural response.”
“Stress is a normal part of the human experience,” Mays said. “It's also a good reminder that sometimes stress can also come from some of our physical health concerns, stress can also contribute to physical health concerns.”
Although stress may at times feel unbearable, there are ways to prevent feeling too overwhelmed and strategies to help cope with anxiety. Mays along with UMD students suggest using planners or calendars to track specific tasks. Time management in general is a key component to regulating one’s stress.
Yoni Arzt, junior kinesiology major, has practiced learning how to balance his heavy workload, extracurricular responsibilities and social outings. After his freshman year, he learned that organization is essential.
“Make sure you’re organized,” Arzt said. “Make sure you take account of when you have to do assignments, when you have to study for exams and stay on top of everything because if you fall behind, it could become very stressful.”
Another student, Hilary Gotlieb, sophomore special education major, also emphasized the importance of utilizing her resources to stay on top of her responsibilities. As a member of executive boards of several organizations and clubs, she mentioned how she feels grateful to be in a major with attentive and helpful advisors.
“It’s really good to always feel like I have an advisor who can support me,” Gotlieb said. “I try to not overwork myself, and I know when enough is enough.”
Mays encourages students to utilize campus resources and talk about stress with others rather than repressing it. According to Mays, a website with all UMD mental health resources was launched last semester to advertise all the opportunities UMD has to offer.
While understanding that it can be intimidating to speak to a stranger or attend a mindfulness event, Mays reassures students that there are options for everyone, including free one-on-one counseling that is completely confidential.
“Our entire goal here on campus is to support students in really all aspects of their well-being and not just focusing on academics but also helping them navigate through other life stressors,” Mays said. “Seeking help is not anything to ever be embarrassed about…when we seek help, we build that sense of connection.”
While beginnings in general can be stressful, the start of a new semester is also filled with excitement. When reminiscing about his past two and a half years of college, Artz said “I think that you can often take something too seriously, and that can be detrimental to your success.”
Learning how to manage one’s stress is a continuous pursuit. College is the perfect time to begin figuring out what works best for you. “As we experience new stressors and new experiences in life, we sometimes have to shift our coping strategies and acknowledge the ones that are no longer working for us… and that’s okay,” Mays said.