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MCC Daily Tribune

Tips for Building Resilience and Overcoming Setbacks in College

Collegiate success can be impacted by numerous stressors across academic, personal, familial, and obligational spheres. While setbacks in these spheres are common throughout your college career, it is important to remember that it is not always the setbacks themselves that hinder success, but instead may be how you respond to them that ultimately shape your future. A core component to weathering difficult times is resilience; if you spend time engaging in activities and skills that build resilience when not in crisis, you will find that you will be able to withstand much greater amounts of stress when crisis occurs. Keep the following concepts in mind when both in and outside of crisis.

  • Cultivating the ability to change your mindset may be the most valuable tool in building resilience. For example, instead of dwelling on failures, a resilient mindset may instead focus on learning from them, analyzing why a failure occurred, and making a more informed decisions to help achieve success in future challenges. A simple shift in perspective can make all the difference in walking through the ups and downs of college life.
  • Another key aspect of resilience-building is maintaining a strong support network. Surrounding yourself with friends, family, mentors, and supportive peers can provide relief or guidance through difficult times. Seeking academic assistance, talking through personal challenges, or simply finding a listening ear; having a support system in place can help make you resilient. See this Tribune post on how to cultivate a support network for more information.
  • An important aspect towards building resilience is maintaining a healthy work/life balance. College life can often present with tiresome aspects like academic pressures, extracurricular activities, and social obligations vying for your time and energy. Learning to prioritize self-care, establish boundaries, and manage stress are important skills for building resilience. Reserving time for your own rest and pursuit of activities that bring you joy help you recharge and build resilience. See this post on how to effectively adopt a healthier work/life balance for more.

Setbacks are a given part of the college experience, but they do not have to define your academic career. By building resilience via learning to change your mindset, maintaining a strong support network, and cultivating a doable work/life balance, you can overcome obstacles and achieve your goals. Remember, resilience is not about succumbing or avoiding challenges, but about recontextualizing and learning from them with the help of you support network.

Matthew Pagani
Counseling Center & Disability Services
04/23/2024