The Forum

The phrase, “Pressure makes diamonds” is what a lot of people relate stress to. This phrase is true, but what happens when your diamond breaks? In college life, students are faced with many different stressors in their life. They have the stress of maintaining their grades, but also, their social life, a source of income, and post-graduation plans, among other things.

As a college student, you are an emerging adult in the world and face new challenges and expectations. Maintaining your personal life and academics at the same time can be a straining and stressful task. STLCC-FV has various resources to assist you with your academics. The campus contains free tutoring for math, science, and English courses, were you can be assisted by peers, mentors, and trusted officials. 

Some of your stress can be positive, though. For example, the pressure of having good grades, or starting a new source of income, are good and push you to become a better person and student. However, the stress of failing every test you take, or struggling to juggle your personal and work life can turn into a negative stressor. This is why STLCC-FV offers the Academic Success and Tutoring Center (ASTC). This program is there to not only help you succeed when you're down, but also to offer guidance and push you further even when you're succeeding. 

Savanna Nesbit from the dual enrollment program attends both high school and college. She used STLCC's free Writing Center to help with her English 101 paper. Nesbit says, “Before I went to the writing center, I was unclear and worried about how my paper would turn out, but when I got there, they improved my writing which, in turn, helped my grade in English.” 

Dual enrollment students can have heavy academic pressure, taking high school and college classes on the same schedule. Therefore, programs like this help guide them and ease their stress. Nesbit also said, “I didn’t have to worry about revising my entire paper alone”. 

Another dual-enrolled student, Saraya Beverley, used the math center and said, “Before coming, I felt lost, and like I couldn’t understand much of what the professor was teaching." She expressed that going to the math center provided her with some relief and clarity. As a student, you are being provided with a support system that is there for you when you don’t have the answers your professor is asking for. 

Math center tutor Logan Huddleston said “I think it helps, there have been so many times students have come to me after I have helped them and expressed that it was much clearer after I helped them.” When other students used the math center, they left with clarity and said that it benefited their math grades. Huddleston also said, “Students should come and do their homework in the math center, in case they have a question.” 

Taking advantage of these programs covered by your tuition is a great way to succeed. Academic stress can be overwhelming, so it’s good to remember these programs are here to ease your stress. Remember, it takes time for your academic and college life to balance.  

The writing center is located on the second floor of the Instructional Resource Building. During spring and fall semesters it is open from 8 am-8 pm. Summer hours will vary. The ASTC is in the Instructional Resource building, bottom floor, room 113. The ASTC is open in the fall and spring semesters Monday through Thursday from 8 am-8 pm. It’s also open on Friday, 9 am-2 pm, as well as Saturday 10 am-2 pm. Summer hours will vary.