Have you ever felt the need to do a lot just to feel like you were doing enough? College is seen as a time to grow and explore, but for many students it feels like chaos and pressure to “do it all” at once.
I interviewed family friend and Doctor, Rakira Brown, a pediatrician who attended Howard University Medical School, and like most, she recalls navigating this challenge.
“Managing schoolwork while maintaining a social life is definitely tough,” she said. “But if you put the effort into your work early, it gives you more freedom to actually enjoy your life outside of class.”
Like many college students, Brown acknowledged things not going as planned played a significant role throughout her college experience: “It is the thief of joy, ”Brown said.
Yet, she said that setbacks on her path to medical school ultimately helped her understand this lesson more clearly, emphasizing that meaningful progress depends less on the speed and more the intentions you have.
Experiences of burnout are common among college students and often continue well beyond graduation, a pattern Brown encountered repeatedly throughout her medical training.
Brown shared that redefining what self-care meant in her own life, such as spending quiet time alone, reading lighthearted novels, or getting a massage, ultimately allowed her to reset and maintain her mental health during high level stages of stress in her education.
Brown emphasized that burnout should not be interpreted as failure or ignored as you continue on your path to your achievement; instead, she wants students to view it as a sign to
reassess personal limits and daily routines. Her message to students juggling academics, employment, relationships, and a social life, is that it is very necessary for students to prioritize health in high pressure environments.