Kayla English frets that she already broke her New Year’s resolution.  

“One of [my resolutions] was to worry less about everything,” said English, a senior Health Studies major. “I spend a majority of my time stressed.

“I worry about finances, not finding a job in a couple months, the quality of my work,” she said. “The list can go on and on.”

English is not alone. The American College Health Association reports that 45% of American college students claim to be under “more than average stress”, while 33% report “average stress” and 12.7% feel they are under “tremendous stress”.  

Breaking the habit for 2023 is important to English as she begins her transition to adulthood. The resolution was short-lived.

“The first time I broke my New Year’s resolution was during the second week of January,” she said.

For some seniors, the last months in school are exciting. For English, they are stressful. 

She is determined to get back on track with her resolution by adopting a better mindset for the rest of the year. 

“I think that still trying to maintain your goals is important because you continue working on yourself,” English  said. “I am trying to use the time as both a learning experience and fuel to figure out ways to fix the issue.

“Down the road I can experience more in my 20s without feeling regret and guilt,” she said.

To that end, she has adopted a new motto: “Less think, more do.”