To the Editor:

Are you new at this college stuff? Do you just want to give up and throw in the towel sometimes? Do you feel like no matter what you do you can’t please anyone?

These are all normal questions that new college students ask themselves everyday.

This is how I have been feeling and still feel at least once a day. I am a new college freshman here at ISU and full of stress beyond belief. When it comes to getting good grades, pleasing my parents and professors, working a part time job and still trying to be involved in “campus life,” it’s really hard to please myself. No matter what I do I just can’t seem to keep up with everything and everyone. To top it off I have had a lot of unexpected events occur in my life since I have been in college. Those problems have ranged from losing a loved one to trying to hold on to a long distance relationship. As we all know, it isn’t very easy.

I know for a fact that many people on campus have felt this way at one time or another. A lot of times when the going has gotten tough these people have gotten going. They either realize that the college scene isn’t for them or they just give up and take that so-called “easy way out” of life by committing suicide.

According to the so called “studies,” suicide rates among young adults is rising rapidly. A major cause of this is the pressure of adjusting to new lifestyles in college. Some people don’t believe those “studies,” but I happen to.

One of my friends recently had a friend who was supposed to graduate within two semesters. This graduation date was later than he had planned and due to all the stress he had gone through during college, he gave up and decided to end his life.

Another friend of mine recently told me a story of a young person committing suicide. In everyone’s eyes this person had it “perfect.”

He was an excellent athlete, had wonderful grades and was loved by almost all of the people that he encountered.

Things were different on the inside, though. He ended his life halfway through his freshman year of college because he just couldn’t cope with all of the “pressure” that he felt on his shoulders.

The point I am getting across here is that it really is hard to change lifestyles in a matter of weeks and change everything that you have ever known.

It’s scary when you don’t get the grades you’re used to getting and nothing seems to go “your way.” At the same time it’s hard if everything is “wonderful” and you can’t break the expectations everyone has for you. Because of things like this, it is so easy to throw in the towel and give up on life completely. I know I’ve wanted to a time or two.

Some of you may not have a clue why someone would want to take their own life. For that reason I hope you read this article carefully and have more of an understanding for this scary problem.

After all, it could be one of your friends someday that needs help and you may be the only one they trust to talk about their problems. Be prepared to help them and don’t take it as a joke.

If you do feel this way, though, don’t feel like you’re alone. Talk to others who feel the same or go get help from one of the many places here on campus like the Student Counseling Center (4-5056).

Whatever you do, don’t give up! Remember how lucky you are to be going to a wonderful university, gaining an education for yourself and, eventually, having an awesome future. I leave you with this quote from Vittorio Alfieri: “Often the test of courage is not to die but to live.”

Amy Hillman

Freshman

Pre-Major, Journalism Mass Communication