Many people imagine college as a simple time in life for students to be carefree and have fun. In actuality, the majority of students are bogged down in school work rushing to meet deadlines and cramming for exams. Therefore, this is normally a highly stressful period for most people. Students face several pressures as they enter the college realm, such as peer pressure, self-induced pressure, parental pressure, and economic pressure.
             Peer pressure is the most common of these. Fellow classmates, dorm residents, and friends around campus can be an enormous influence and can interfere with one's studies. Persuasion is the key tactic as they manipulate others to go out with them to have a little fun. Partying and drinking statistics are high among college individuals. This causes many of them to veer off the right path and fall behind in school. Failing courses, losing scholarships, and even worse, losing their self dignity become a few scares and burdens upon them. Not only do they have to worry about what others may think of them, but they also tend to worry about themselves.
             This is commonly known as self-induced pressure. In our society, we have been taught to become the "best" among those around us. We learn the importance of competition at an early age, such as who has the best toys or clothes and who can run faster or climb higher. We are generally judged predominantly by what we have or how we appear on paper instead of as individuals. Because of this, students push themselves to strive harder in order to have the best grades on their transcript, as discussed by William Zinsser in his essay titled "College Pressures". He states, "The transcript has become a sacred document, the passport to security." Today, the majority of grad schools determine the best person to accept by this sheet of paper.
             It is unfortunate that many students must work in order to pay their tuition, books, fees, room and board, thus enduring eco...