While college is a time for learning, for new experiences and self-discovery for students, it can also be a time for anxiety, stress and depression, leading on rare occasions to students trying to hurt themselves. Stress and depression stem from the pressures of competing at too early an age. This results in students encountering adult responsibilities prematurely. While students still crave the nurturing effects of their parents, they often feel compelled to choose the real world before they are ready.
             As young children, the stresses of life begin with preschool. Dr. Boyd states, "People are being exposed to all kinds of things at a much earlier age, including pressures to compete"(Berger, 2). As early as the age of 4 years old, children are being forced into the school system and expected to read and even begin writing. This also marks the beginning of competition among their peers to do better and be smarter. Due to their developed critical thinking skills at this age, they are aware of the pressures and stresses to perform. They know they must pass all exams and classes otherwise, they will suffer the consequences of being left back a grade. There also exists the pressures of being in the top of your class, therefore, children need not only pass but they must exceed their peers. This is delineated in some of the statistics among stress and depression among children. "As many as one in every thirty-three children and one in eight adolescents may have stress-related depression. Once a young person has experienced an episode of depression he or she is at risk of developing another depression within the next five years" (Agins, 2).
             While students are in high school their stress levels are manageable and can be dealt with. However, when they enter college and they are in a new environment with new people the depression suddenly seems overwhelming. The choosing of this new environment to attend school is often forced upon them d...