As students transition from high school to college, their emotions and stress can run very high due to the pressure, uncertainties, and homesickness. Cramming for exams, getting the grade that one deserves, falling in and out of love, participating in extracurriculars, or just hanging out with friends – these are only some of the things that cause their emotions and moods to fluctuate considering that it’s difficult to settle down because everything seems to happen so fast inside the university.
This month, The Menagerie surveyed Lasallians from each of the seven colleges to find out how the their University lifestyle affects their emotions and moods and how they adjust to make their undergraduate life as memorable as possible (not to mention to also keep their sanity intact), and to finally see if some colleges really do pack more of a stress punch than others.
College of Liberal Arts
Welcome to the largest college in DLSU! As May-Anne (II, AB-POM) succinctly puts it, “We are diverse!” Blake* (II, AB-PSM) describes that CLA is different because it’s “a very happy-go-lucky college and loud to boot … and just has a certain freshness and carefree tinge.” According to Jeffrey (IV, AB-PSM), “Oftentimes we are thought to be like the ‘maarte’ college and it’s funny since we are always thought to [be] filthy rich, but not everyone is”. Frederick* (II, AB-LIM) adds that “workload is lighter but more difficult [with] regards to academics and co-curriculars”
Being active in an organization is always part of a CLA student’s life. Aaron (IV, BS-PSYC) shares, “It feels rewarding and you personally feel your growth as a person. The experiences to head or co-head projects, and the people that you meet along the way are actually more than the reward in becoming part of an organization.”
Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business
The RVR – College of Business is home to the country’s (possible) future CEOs, bankers and accountants. Queenie (III, BS-MKT) narrates that a typical day can be summed up in two aspects. “Mentally: A day of school makes me happy that I got work done and learned something in class (hopefully a lot of life lessons). Physically: Sometimes if there was a lot of work to do, it’s tiring and I just want to get in bed and relax.”
Students are excited yet nervous at the same time about taking their major classes. “Majors are stressful because you have to really go out there. But if you’ve accomplished it, you feel really good.” says Jose (III, BS-MKT).
When asked on how COB is different from other colleges, Mico (III, BS-MKT) feels that “COB students really represent what Lasallians are more than any other college.” Zayn* (III, BS-LGL) adds, “It’s the forte of La Salle, business and it includes all those nerve-wracking subjects of math, law, science and management.”
Gokongwei College of Engineering
The College of Engineering contains some of the University’s toughest degrees. Here, theories, applications and heavy math go hand-in-hand.
However, major subjects can be scary. Dianne (II, CHE) states that what makes it scarier is the fact that some classes are offered only once a year. Optimistically, however, Alex* (II,CHE) exclaims, ”Considering that these are all preparations for the future makes me happy in some way.”
Gia (II, IME-IT) explains, “People are scared or intimidated with COE because of how they see us compared to them because we are stressed all the time that we don’t have fun anymore or that we study everyday but for me I don’t feel stressed at all that much. I think as long as you love what you’re doing and you don’t ever give up and work hard, you will ‘kaya’ an engineering course or any difficult course for that matter.”
College of Computer Studies
In the distant Planet Gox can you find the elusive DLSU computer whizzes scrambling with their laptops and cup of coffee in hand. It can be quite stressful in CCS because of the workload and inevitable time pressure. Billy* (IV, CS-NE) describes that majors are scary because “passing grades are 70 percent and above, and sometimes [I just have to do my] best to pass”. Justin (III, CS-NE) adds that he “felt scared but excited at the same time because I knew that I would go through hell again in creating things that not everyone can make”.
Students are known for creating machine projects or MP’s: softwares, hardwares (and sometimes both) to test one’s subject mastery. Justin explains that “It’s hard because there are no real references in engineering these kinds of things. Even if you study for 10+ days non-stop, if you can’t think of the solution you’ll still fail.”
College of Science
As trainees in the field of sciences, COS students are acclimated to stress as early as the first term. And it’s no wonder that most of them always feel exhausted at the end of the day. Antonio (II, MTH-BAP) shares that with the hectic life of COS, it’s hard to balance extracurriculars, academics, and leisure. However, he notes that extracurricular involvements “set my mind off academics if it makes my life stressful.”
James (IV, BS-BIO) feels that “In terms of academic workload, COS always seems to be the toughest. There are always long exams and stuff to do.” Hannah (II, BS-BIO) adds that COS is “one of the colleges that has the most number of subjects that are really hard to pass. [But] when you manage to graduate from here, people will be looking up [to] you “.
Br. Andrew Gonzalez College of Education
The College of Education is the haven for students who decide to emulate the ways of St. La Salle. Professors never forget to remind the students that they are the prime movers of change, and they carry the future of this country in their shoulders as they shape minds, touch hearts and transform lives. According to Jennica* (II, EED-ECED), CED professors are really motherly because they had been former pre-school teachers.
Brittney* (III, EED- ECED) emphasizes how closely-knit the college is. “CED is a family. We know practically everyone in the college! From the upper batch to the lower, we all help each other out – whether loving the course or not, we bring each other up.” Carmela (II, BS- ECED) explains that CED “opens our eyes to the simplest problems and how much they impact people.”
School of Economics
Despite being the smallest, the School of Economics is one of the toughest colleges to obtain a degree from. Students are exposed to the rigors of calculus, economic analysis and research as they are trained how to think and talk as economists should. As for the actual work (i.e. majors) there is a mixture of anxiety, excitement or intimidation.
The academic workload alone already causes much stress on students. Thus, the idea of having extracurriculars sounds like suicide, right? However, Kimi* (III, ECM-MGT) disagrees. “[Extra curricular work] may look like added work and deadlines, but since I’m surrounded by people who either keep me sane or just as loopy as I am, it actually makes the experience more fun and memorable [through] all the laugh-trips and storytelling.”
SOE is different in many ways. Sofia (IV, BS-AEC) explains “We are taught that everything is not about grades… [they] do not define who you are.”
Zooming out of the magnifying glass, University life is indeed difficult, a roller coaster ride of sorts. It is good to note that once all the hardships pass, it will all be worth it. Though all the colleges may have their differences, battling each other out on who really takes on the most stress points, one thing is sure throughout. Samantha (IV, BS-AEC) shares this commonality in saying, “Studying in DLSU teaches us how to work under stress through engaging ourselves in student organizations to enhance our networks and at the same time, being able to balance our workload in both academic and non-academic aspects.”
