#10 Peer Interview for the “Mental Health Mentoring Series”

Senior at University of Washington majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, and graduate of Gunn High School 2022

In high school, what was your overall stress or anxiety level from a scale of 1-3:  3 - High

In college, what is your overall stress or anxiety level from 1-3: 1 - Low

What contributed to your stress or anxiety in high school?  Competitive honors math classes like Analysis Honors and AP Calc BC really contributed to my stress in high school. I was taking many APs and honors courses, but math felt, by far, the least intuitive to me. Unfortunately, I was very stubborn and wanted to learn the material, so I never dropped down a lane, but it ended up making the rest of my classes even more stressful.

What contributes to your stress or anxiety in college?  I'm much less stressed in college than I was in high school. I'd like to think I'm still as, or more, competitive and high-achieving, but in a much more balanced way. For example, I do research for two labs on campus, but I also make time to have fun with my friends, hike on the weekends, and practice my sport.

What were your favorite high school activity(ies)?  I was a competitive horseback rider in high school, but not Gunn affiliated. My favorite thing to do was horseback riding, as it still is. It was a great outlet for me during the stress of high school, and I was able to build my confidence athletically. 

What are your favorite college activity(ies)?  I'm still a competitive horseback rider, which takes a lot of my time. I brought my horses to college and drive to a nearby barn almost every day to ride. I'm also the captain of the Equestrian Team at UW, which has given me a great family away from home. I, additionally, work on two research labs on campus and have found great mentors and people through those jobs.

How have pressures you faced in high school differ from your experience in college? 

The pressures are different, and much less external. I think a big part of the reason I was so stressed in high school was because I faced a lot of pressure from my peers and also from myself. In college, I don't feel pressured to succeed by those around me, rather, it comes from my own motivation.

How have your social relationships changed from high school to college or beyond? 

I have way more friends in college than I did in high school. I'm really proud of how I was able to make a family for myself in a place away from home. I also started dating for the first time in my life! I was too stressed in high school for romantic relationships.

How have your studying habits or approaches changed from high school to college?

Much more effective and less stressed in college. I learned that no matter how much you're studying, if you're in fight or flight mode the whole time, it won't be very effective. That style requires many long hours of studying and a lot of frustration. Now, I'm in a calmer state when studying, which allows me to be more efficient.

When you are stressed or anxious, what techniques, rituals, or ways do you manage?

Breathing techniques.

Knowing what you know now, if you were back in high school, what might you do differently? 

Drop down a math lane! There was no reason to keep struggling through those classes when it wasn't very relevant to my future major (which I knew in high school), and I didn't enjoy them.

What would be your best overall advice to high school students? 

Try not to forget that there is a life outside of high school for you. It truly doesn't end if you don't get into a Top 10 college. If you're a motivated and personable human being, the college you go to really doesn't have anything to do with the success and happiness that's waiting for you in life.