Everyone has issues. Northwestern students – high-achieving, obsessive and often ambitious – are no different.
Many of us are perfectionists, a trait that drove us to the top of our high school. We applied that same drive to our college applications and managed to find our way to NU.
Although we are well aware that our competition had changed, we still secretly hope to make it to the top in college. But overzealous freshmen eager to make their mark often run into unforeseen challenges.
For some, the moment of humility comes quickly, right after realizing that they only have time to participate in one student organization compared to the ten they were involved in during high school. Others can stave it off until their first Finals Week all-nighter.
But the moment inevitably comes and we are each left to find our own ways to cope. Some go to SPAC and run until they pass out. Some curl up with a piece of non-required reading. And some of us seek a professional.
I went to NU’s Counseling and Psychological Services a number of times my sophomore year. The CAPS waiting room is an interesting place, where magazines and books are used as armor against eye contact. One week, a particularly brave soul sat down across from me and gave me a quick greeting before reaching for the ritual magazine. For those that are a bit less comfortable with being noticed there is a back door behind Searle so one can visit the office without having to cross through the clinic waiting room.
For a variety of reasons, some believe that going to counseling or even thinking about it is something to be ashamed of. They view it as a sign of weakness necessary only for those incapable of handling their own life.
Thankfully, this is becoming more of an outdated point of view. But for those of you stragglers, I am here to air NU’s dirty laundry. According to a November 2003 Daily article, CAPS saw 1,700 new cases in 2002. As the article aptly pointed out, that’s enough students to fill every South Campus dorm.
In a world where college is getting increasingly intense, that number has nowhere to go but up. It is very conceivable that those who seek counseling could soon become the majority, if they aren’t already. There is no reason for therapy to be viewed as something shameful, it’s actually a very understandable choice.
CAPS offers walk-in hours Monday-Friday 12-2 p.m., or you can shoot them a call and make an appointment. Try it out at least once before you graduate, if not for any reason than it’s already included on your tuition bill.
NU has a variety of issues that weight on everybody –
