Campus Insights

Your Student’s Mental Wellbeing

By Katelyn Cowen, Director of Health Promotion

September 17, 2024

Your students were likely drawn to the holistic nature of a liberal arts college, where they can create their own curriculum, and build a rich college experience. Yet, sometimes, the combination of options feels endless. With all that Hamilton has to offer, it’s no wonder we hear from some students that they are overwhelmed by the many opportunities and choices ahead. We often hear questions like, “How do I choose?” or “How do I balance all of this?” or “How do I find the right combination of things to get me ahead/nourish me/be happy/support my future?”

Underlying these questions are two dynamics that we can unpack: that there is a right way to “do Hamilton” and sitting with the very uncomfortable feeling of uncertainty. The beauty and the curse of Hamilton is that there is so much to offer that there is no one right path or combination. What students do have are indicators of wellbeing they can look at: 

• Do I feel good about my relationships at Hamilton and home? 
• Do I have healthy ways to cope when I’m stressed? 
• Do I feel a sense of purpose? 
• Am I paying attention to my body’s cues for hunger, sleep, thirst, and sunlight? 
• Do I feel safe? What are the things I do have control over? 
• Where could I use more nourishment? 

If your student needs support while exploring these questions, there is a wealth of resources on campus that can help (their ALEX advisor or a Peer Counselor can be great places to start).

The uncertainty is harder. We, as humans, naturally want to avoid uncertainty. We might attempt this by trying to fit everything in (so we don’t miss out), planning every moment of our day, or giving up before we even start. But, if we can sit with the discomfort of uncertainty and allow ourselves to choose a few things we might like, leave some space for the day to unfold, or just show up, we may find a greater gift in learning what we actually want or like. 

The hardest thing in life is not getting what you want; it’s knowing what you want. There will be things your student wished they did or did differently – that’s part of the human condition. The real opportunity here is to make some mistakes to learn from and to have them get to know who they are.