"A lot to lose"

By E.J. Merlo

Kansas City- Think about the stress and anxiety one must feel transferring from a Community College to a four year University. Most people look at Community College as a stepping stone in ones path to fulfilling their educational dream of earning a Bachelors or Masters degree. The realization that their college expedition is only half way over can be a daunting thought. The laid back environment the Community College provides is no longer there. Students may have a hard time adjusting to the more fast paced life of a university. They also must come to terms that they likely will not get the luxury of leniency from instructors, the possible opportunity to submit late work, or the one on one time with an instructor you often find at Community College.

Another stressor can be knowing their education is not costing them or their parents twice or even three times as much as it did at the Community College. Zane Mapes, a Kansas City Kansas Community College graduate and now student at Washburn University, stated "I can’t believe how much money I am paying for school this year vs. last year”.                                                                                                                                     

Yes, going for a higher degree requires more of a financial obligation, as well as a more mature attitude towards your education.

Consider all these stressors and then add to them being a student athlete on scholarship. Not only do they have the pressure and responsibility of the things already mentioned, they have to deal with time constraints due to practice, the anxiety of knowing a failing grade could end their scholarship or their career in their sport. This on top of having to perform to their highest ability on the field can be a lot to manage.

Stress and anxiety for a transfer student can be overwhelming but they must try to remember on a daily basis a quote from Aristotle, “the roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet”.