George Zinsser The Pressure Of College

College: A place where five page essays are due in one week. Where there are loads and loads of homework, which results in late nights and even all nighters. Where impossible test and quizzes can happen at any given time. Though, some students ask: Where does it end? College is a very challenging transition for many students. It is not only a vital academic experience, but it is also the first time students are away from home. It is a place that is said to be “the best time of your life”, but what you don’t hear is how much pressure you are put through during this time period. The pressure to succeed in the classroom and balance other aspects of your new college life can be overwhelming, and because of this, college can be considered a big

As students, we feel heavily pressured by our friends and sometimes even our teachers. In Zinsser’s paper, he mentions that one dean said, “when a teacher gets more and more effort from his class, the student who is doing normal work can be perceived as not doing well”(440). Many students, including myself, feel the pressure from our teachers to do more work than what was assigned. As well, the pressure we feel from our friends impacts us too. For an example, when our friends go out and invite us to tag along, we feel that if we don’t go, we might be seen as a “no fun” or be considered “boring”. So, instead of having the label placed on us, we go out and push back our more important work, saving it for later. As well, Zinsser mentions that there is another pressure that goes alongside peer pressure. Zinsser states that “peer pressure and self-induced pressure are also intertwined”(440). Self-induced pressure is the fourth and final pressure Zinsser talks about within his essay. As a future college student, I feel the weight on my shoulders to succeed. In Zinsser’s essay, he states that “when every student thinks every other student is working harder and doing better, the only solution is to study harder”(440). This type of pressure is constantly being placed on everyday students. We feel a natural instinct to outdo one another because we feel that in the end the student with the best score will go

After reading Zinsser’s essay about the pressure of college, I have been thinking nonstop about how I will be able to keep the pressure from the economy, my parents, my peers, and from myself balanced. The overall pressure of college can be scary. Some students nowadays are either pushing off college because it is “too stressful” for them, while other students take on too much right away and almost feel like they are drowning. Students today are struggling to maintain a balanced state within their lives because of college. Though, it is not to say that it is impossible to find a way to make everything work. Many students, including myself, need to realize that there are going to be ups and downs when dealing with college. The point of life is to make mistakes and learn, not just look for an answer and rush through it. Even though there is pressure that is present, it shouldn’t get in the way of your college experience and as well as your