Case Study: Katya

Coming into college, freshman students do not know what to expect. Students are just

ending four years of high school curriculum and having the high school student mentality, then

begin a new chapter in their University or Community College. This new chapter of higher

education comes with new environments, new lifestyles and new social experiences. It also

comes with a different side to it, such as a higher level of expectations, stress, and pressure to

do well. In this case, Katya is a new college student, who averages a 3.0 GPA and is

experiencing major anxiety due to lack of confidence with her efforts of studying and preparation

before tests; she feels that what she does to prepare is not enough to get a good or passing

grade on her tests and exams. In her situation, she has a chemistry exam coming up that she

needs to do well on or else she loses her scholarship. The pressure of the situation was so

overwhelming for Katya that she experienced a panic attack in the afternoon while she was

studying for her exam, and now she has two days until she takes her chemistry exam and is

looking for some help and advice to control her anxiety and find some ways to help gain more

confidence. My personal experience is very interesting, and some of my experiences tie up with

Katya’s. Coming out of high school, I was basically a C and D student, with no motivation to do

well in college and with horrible studying and homework habits. I tried ITT Tech to become an

electrician, but did not find joy and motivation to finish it through so I stopped. I then took a year

off to work to help my parents with payments and debts, which kept me from school. After a trip

to the Philippines and being humbled by my family over there telling me I am wasting my

opportunities with school, I decided to take control of my life again and get back into school.

Now I feel the pressure and expectations to do well in school, just like Katya. Whenever I have

big tests coming up, I too feel some anxiety on whether or not I am studying correctly and if I

know enough to get a good grade on my tests and exams. A few other factors that may be in
consideration with Katya is the pressure she may be getting from her family, mainly her parents

who may have set some standards or make her feel like she needs to live up to an expectation

that she might feel that she cannot reach. Based on Katya’s background, it seems like she has

her priorities straight; school before anything else, but prioritization is another factor that may

cause stress in a students life. For example, maybe a student does not realize that they

prioritize going out and partying or even sports or work before their education, so when they

have something big coming up like a test or exam for a class they feel unprepared for or have

not paid much attention to.

There are many ways to deal with stress. For Katya specifically, I would advise her to

take a step back and reflect on her studying process and see where she feels she is going

wrong. I would also would tell her to find time for herself to detach herself from school work and

maybe pick up her favorite hobbies to help as stress relief. Jean Twenge, author of article

“College Students and the Web Anxiety”, discusses in her article on how stress and anxiety can

be reduced through certain options, starting with the school making a safer environment so the

students feel safer should help make students feel less anxious (Twenge). Another option that

Twenge gave that could also help Katya with her stress and anxiety is to create a schedule that

relieves conflicting times and takes away the stress of having to go from one place to another.

For example, She can create a weekly schedule with school and work (if she is currently

employed) and open up a couple of days or even hours within certain days so she has time to

relax and detach herself from school and work and have time for hobbies or things that help her

calm down and relax. In conclusion, Katya’s stress and anxiety can be fixed simply by taking a

step back and reflecting on her work and seeing where she is going right and where she is

going wrong. She also can create a schedule that can open it up to more free time and time for

relaxation and hobbies.

College Students and the Web of Anxiety
Twenge, J. (2001). College students and the web of anxiety. ​The Chronicle of Higher Education,
47(​ 44), 014-014.

Depression, Anxiety, and Academic Stress Among College Students: A Brief Review
Bhujade, V. M. (2017). Depression, anxiety and academic stress among college students: A
brief review.​ Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing, 8​(7), 748-751.