Blog#3 Why Can’t We Get the Classes We Need

 

Why Can’t We Get the Classes We Need( Blog#3)

A lot of people think college is just about showing up and doing the work but there’s a whole other side to it that feels more like a struggle to survive. I’ve written before about the stress of empty pockets and feeling like a zombie from lack of sleep but lately there’s a new problem hitting me and practically everyone else on campus. It’s the absolute nightmare of trying to register for classes.

My Experience

This isn't just a minor annoyance it’s a huge obstacle that’s slowing down my future. The way the school handles registration is basically a first-come first-served system based on what day you’re assigned. Since I was given one of the very last days to pick I was basically screwed before I even started. By the time my window opened almost every single class I actually needed for my Mechanical Engineering major was already grayed out and full.

It’s pretty demoralizing when you have a plan and you've worked hard to stay on track but the school’s system doesn't have the space to let you actually move forward. Because I was at the back of the line I wasn't able to get my core requirements. Me and my friends actually spent a lot of time planning everything out together but we all got hit by the same wall. I had to skip certain classes entirely this semester because there was literally no room left for me.

I actually got lucky enough that my classes are at similar times but my friends are dealing with a total mess. Their schedules are a shambles, with crazy gaps like having one class in the morning and then waiting around for hours for the next. When you have a schedule with messed up times like that it makes it impossible to balance a job or have any kind of life. It feels like my academic success is being decided by a random date on a calendar and if you get a late one you’re just out of luck.

The Chain Reaction of it 

Like I’ve said about other issues these problems are all linked together. If I can't get a class I need I have to wait another semester. That means I stay in school longer which means I have to pay for more semesters I can't afford. According to the Lumina Foundation, these kinds of structural barriers are a huge reason why students struggle to finish their degrees.

The underlying causes are pretty clear there’s a major lack of teaching staff and room constraints where the school just doesn't have enough space for the amount of people attending. It’s basically a too many fish not enough pond situation that leaves us fighting for seats like it's a game.

The Problem

This isn't just happening at SDSU, it’s a national conversation. Reports from the AAUP show that schools are struggling to hire enough new faculty to keep up with enrollment. Even though suspicious links are removed, you see students everywhere venting about how a bad registration date can mess up your mental health and your bank account.

I’m here studying mechanical engineering because I want to fix problems and eventually get that bread but it’s hard to fix anything when you can’t even get into the room to learn. We need better solutions from our schools so that we aren't just going through the motions of a schedule that doesn't work for us.

Problems

By: Isaac Cortez

   A lot of people say that college can be the  "best years of your life." They talk about the freedom, the parties, and the overall fun you can have. While it sounds great to a lot of people its really not. Many problems happen when you attend college, some are happening to me and many others in many schools around the world, that make it very hard to succeed which are a. These aren't just minor annoyances ( well they can be to some if you are rich ); but they are obstacles that affect my grades, my health, my wealth, and my future.

The Stress of Empty Pockets

Financial struggle is probably the largest “invisible” issue on campus. It’s not just about affording classes; it’s about the ever-increasing price of everything else. I’m pesonally struggling to afford car payments groceries, and. This is a societal problem that almost no one can ignore at some point; it will always affect you.

 As I found Research from Lumina foundation shows that nearly 60% of students struggle to afford their basic needs. For me, this means I have to work extra ours at a job, which takes time away from my studies and my social life. I often feel like I’m failing at school because I’m trying so hard to afford to stay there. It’s a cycle that feels almost impossible to break.

The Loneliness of a Busy Campus

Even though I am surrounded by thousands of people, college can feel incredibly lonely. My school often feels like a "ommuter hub," where people just show up for their lectures and then disappear immediately for work or home, as I do practically every day. Which makes it really hard to build a community or find people who are going through the same things as me.

A study by the Active minds found that a huge percentage of students reported feeling "very lonely" within the last year, around 64,% which is crazy. When yu don't feel like you have a support system or a group of friends to lean on, your self-confidence drops.Since many people lost frends when we all took different paths after high school. It makes you want to stay in your room instead of getting involved in campus activities, which just makes the isolation feel even more permanent..

The Constant Battle with Sleep

One of the bigest problems I face is sleep deprivation. In college culture, staying up all night is almost seen as a "badge of honor," but to me i normally just play video games all night as it helps me relieve stress, but it’s actually destroying our ability to learn. Between late-night study sessions, working a job, and being on my phone for school updats, my sleep schedule is a mess.

According to Science Daily, sleep loss makes it much harder to pay attention and remember what you learned in class. Personally, when I haven’t slept for long enough, I feel like I’m walking through a fg. It makes the stress of school feel ten timesheavier than it actually is. It isn't just about feeling tired; it's about how your brain literally stops processing information correctly when you're running on fumes. Like you are a zombie in this world, just going through motions.

The Mental Health Breaking Point

Finally, all of these problems, the lack of sleep, the lneliness, and the money stress, add up and become a mental health crisis. Anxiety and burnout are at record highs for people my age. We are expectd to be at the top of our game while facing the most stress we’ve ever experienced.

While SDSU doe offer resources, they are often hard to get as many are too scared to ask for help. And according to the Center for Collegiate Mental Health, the demand for counseling has grown much faster than the number of staff available to help. This leaves many people waiting for weeks to alk to someone when we are already at our breaking point. Thoughthe school can't fully be blamed alot of us cannot ask for help when we are struggling and always ask when its to late

Conclusion

These issues are all linked together like a chain. If I amstressed about money, I work more if I work more I sleep less if I sleep less, my mental health will suffer. It is crucial to understand that these are systmic issues, not just individual problems that I amcausing. We need to have better solutions from our schools and communities so that college can truly be the “best years” for everyone, not just a struggle to survive