The last month of a semester is a time of potentially harmful stress on students who work through a month of semester-ending tests and projects, only to have to prepare for finals around the corner. Many students freak out when trying to make it through these times as even the most efficient and cool-headed students can feel overwhelmed.

This issue doesn’t simply make students feel pressure for a bit and then leave; students who don’t know how to handle the pressure can harm themselves by drinking or taking drugs in excess as well as mentally berating themselves when their work doesn’t result in their desired grades.

It’s no wonder colleges everywhere, including Chico State, host events designed to help students reduce stress by having fun. By hosting puppy play dates and festivals, students’ minds can wander without worrying about upcoming deadlines.

Students have their own risky ways they choose to deal with stress however. Here at Chico State, it isn’t hard to find students who attempt to drown their stress with booze. Drinking and using drugs clearly aren’t the best ways to cope, but of course it will happen, hopefully without tragic results this semester.

Regarding substance aid, students will also definitely take more than just excess alcohol and caffeine. Many will search for prescription substances like Adderall or Ritalin, legally or illegally, for a mental advantage, though these can also lead to certain risks or permanent harm.

We as a student body have been going through this period and only have a little more to push through. Everyone on campus is trying to reach the end in one piece and so won’t want to deal with any more stress aside from their class commitments.

No one wants to hear that the stress from this month got the best of somebody who ended up harming themselves. Chico knows how to celebrate and relieve stress, but our student body only has a little further to push until we are in the clear. Campus resources are always willing to help anyone who wants help balancing these tasks in the final months.

You got this Chico State, only a little bit further!

Sean Daly can be reached at [email protected] or @sdaly3orion on Twitter.