You are doing enough.

If the goal of class participation is to mark a student’s progress and understanding or enrich conversation, there are ways to accomplish this while being cognizant of those who struggle with social interaction.

We live in a society without written rules. Yes, we have laws, but no laws govern social interaction–that sphere lives in a state of complete anarchy.

In college, coming by extensive test preparatory materials isn’t as easy as it was in high school.

Despite the smiling faces that grace the covers of our brochures and viewbooks, unhappiness certainly has an ominous presence on campus. I guess it isn’t completely surprising that this is such a common sentiment—after all, Washington University is an intensely high-pressure environment. It’s almost too easy to fall into the clutches of feeling inadequate, overwhelmed, lonely and everything in between.

“I wasn’t doing as well as I could, and no matter how hard I was trying, I still couldn’t get things going the right way.” This freshman pre-medical student described his immense struggle to balance academic work and a social life upon entering Washington University—his intense feelings of inadequacy compounded by his parents’ inability to understand his struggles.

When a roommate or suitemate comes down with the flu or mononucleosis, usually one can easily recognize that he or she is sick. But when a friend suffers from depression or anxiety, the symptoms are often much less obvious. According to recent national surveys of campus therapists, there is a rising trend of students seeking psychiatric help in colleges across the country.