Dear College Student,

Dear college student, 

Something happens post-college that makes some adults forget the hard parts about college and only remember the good. 

Life has gotten harder for you, college student, in the nine years since I was a college freshman. The pressures are bigger than they've ever been to be successful, to pick the right major, to rush the right sorority.

We ask so much of you - make friends, fit in, made good grades, exercise and stay healthy, volunteer, do extracurriculars - run the race with blisters on your heels until they crack - until you crack under the pressure -  until you want to fall down, exhausted.

Falling down doesn't feel like an option, does it? 

Only perfection does. 

Do all of these things with the hope - not promise - of a future where you have a great job that you love, that fulfills your life purpose, and also pays the bills.

And if you don’t get that job it will feel like it is because you did something wrong, not because society is broken and stacked against you. 

Do all of these things with what seems like no real support - no one telling you to ask for help, no one encouraging you to treasure your mental health.

Do all of these things while the world looks down on you for being young, for being untried, for being immature. 

Sweet student, there are those in this world who are for you.

Perhaps it is your parents, your neighbor, your counselor, your church community. Find those people and hold them close. Don’t let depression or anxiety overwhelm you. Life is hard but you don't have to walk it alone. Find community. Open up. Talk about it. 

You are the generation who stands up for what you believe in. Who seeks justice and scorns inequality. You are the generation who is smarter, works harder and, yes, edits Instagram photos better than we could ever hope to do. You have an intuition about trends and disrupting the status quo. 

You are seen and you are loved. 

Be kind to each other and be kind to yourselves. 

Do not be discouraged. 

We see you. ​

We believe in you. 


If you are interested in making an appointment with one of our counselors at Bethel Haven, please call us at 706.310.9046 to schedule an appointment.