Mental Health Mentoring Series

Launching a new “Mental Health Mentoring Series” targeted for students in high school. I’m interviewing graduates from mainly Gunn and Palo Alto High Schools and asking them whether their mental health has improved after high school, how they manage it, how their experiences have changed in college or beyond, and what is their best advice for current high school students. I hope by reading my interviews, you’ll gain some insight, perspective, or even hope from your upper peers and our generation's voices. Despite your current stress or struggles experienced in high school, our best days are truly ahead in college and beyond. That’s what my interviewees say. Keep up the faith and belief in yourself. Our grads did it and so can you! Enjoy the reads, and leave comments. I’ll be posting interviews weekly so be sure to check back. If you’d like to share your experience, fill out my interview questionnaire.

Interview #1: Junior at UC Berkeley majoring in Psychology, Foothill Community College transfer, and graduate of Gunn High School 2022

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

In college, what is your overall stress or anxiety level 1-3: 2 - Moderate

What contributed to your stress or anxiety in high school? Definitely a lot of work, lack of sleep, being social and alert for 7 hours a day at school

What contributes to your stress or anxiety in college? Stress about the future, workload

What were your favorite high school activity(ies)? Spirit week, survivor tag, lunchtime

What are your favorite college activity(ies)? Sorority activities, Prytanean women’s honors society group activities

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

I felt like my issues were more social in high school while my issues are more career and achievement based (for myself) in college

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

My best friends from high school (who I would still consider my closest friends) do not get daily updates about my life like we used to in high school. But, we stay in very close contact, and I am confident we will stay friends for life. Also, social life is more chill and people are more open to becoming your friend in college.

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

I was a bit more of a procrastinator in high school because I knew I would be going to community college (although my GPA wasn’t bad). Now in college I worked really hard to maintain a 4.0 and got to where I am now.

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

Hang out with my cats, talk with my mom or my family, treat myself with something I’ve been wanting (food, clothes, etc)

What do you think high school students misunderstand or get wrong about college life?

That college is going to be much harder than high school. For people who went to Gunn or Paly (or a difficult Bay Area high school), college will most likely be easier. Another thing is that you will meet your best friends in college. Sometimes this is true, but I think that it is a bit harder in college to make friends, especially if you are in big lectures. In college, you have to make more of an effort to put yourself out there, and you have to go find groups or organizations to be a part of.

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

I don’t regret anything, but maybe to not be as hard on myself and try to get more involved in outside activities.

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

Don’t be so hard on yourself, and I think that community college is an amazing option if you put in the work. I got into every UC school that I applied to (UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UCD) and got a Stanford economics internship (as a psychology major!) while there. Community college definitely set me up better than if I were to have just gone to a 4-year university, especially since the community colleges nearby are some of the best in the country. I think that high school students should weigh their options and not think of community college as a last resort.