Beyond the Books: The Unseen Struggles of Final-Year Students

As Sharon sat at her desk, her laptop screen glowed with a blank Word document, a constant reminder of the looming final-year project deadline. Her mind, once focused and driven, was now consumed by stress and anxiety. The pile of unread textbooks beside her seemed to grow taller by the minute, while her phone buzzed incessantly with messages from classmates frantic about an upcoming exam.

With a deep sigh, Sharon whispered to herself, “How am I supposed to get through this?” The final year of university, meant to be a thrilling culmination of her academic journey, had instead been stressful with a lot of self-doubts.

For students like Sharon, the weight of expectation, the fear of failure, and the uncertainty of the future can be overwhelming. The excitement and anticipation of graduation are often eclipsed by the crushing stress of meeting deadlines, securing job prospects, and making sense of the next chapter of life. Some even sacrifice sleep just to meet deadlines.

“I’m always trying to do one thing, and before I even finish, another thing comes up. Once I think I can finally rest, there’s something else demanding my attention. My project, my assignments, deadlines. It just never stops,” said Feyintola Adeyemo, a final-year student of Mass Communication in one of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

Some students who spoke with Campus Reporter stressed that the unseen struggles of their academic demands often leads to emotional breakdowns as the fear of not meeting expectations, the pressure to graduate with a good grade, and the anxiety of what comes next take a toll on their mental health. 

Mariam Kewulere, a final-year Public Health student, shared her struggles with the pressures of final year. “The pressure of final year has really affected my mental health. I’ve experienced more anxiety, stress, and self-doubt than ever before. Sometimes, I don’t even get enough sleep because I’m constantly thinking about assignments, exams, and my project.”

To manage her emotional burden, Mariam has developed coping mechanisms. “When I feel overwhelmed, I take a step back and remind myself that it’s okay to not have everything under control. I reach out to my supportive family, who always know how to lift my spirits and provide a much-needed distraction from my stress,” she explained.

Despite her efforts to cope, she admitted that the fear of not meeting expectations remains a significant concern. “I’ve set high standards for myself, and sometimes, I worry about not achieving my goals. More than anything, I don’t want to disappoint my family because they’ve supported me throughout this journey,” she admitted.

Also, the financial strain on final-year students is often underestimated. Unexpected expenses, such as project printing costs, additional transportation fees, and job application expenditures, can quickly accumulate, placing a significant burden on students’ finances. In response, many students are forced to seek out part-time employment or supplementary income streams, commonly referred to as side hustles, in order to stay afloat and manage their expenses.

Elijah Samuel, a Nigerian student pursuing his studies in Togo, painted a stark picture of his financial struggles. In previous years, managing his expenses was relatively effortless, but now it’s become a constant source of stress, attributing the financial woes to a substantial hike in tuition fees.

“My school fees increased from 200,000 Naira to 740,000 CFA. Just as I was thinking of how to handle that, we were told to pay an additional administrative fee. What exactly are they administrating?”

To further exacerbate the financial strain, Elijah and his fellow final-year students were mandated to incur additional expenses, including purchasing a textbook for the school library, donating a pack of A4 paper, and providing a flash drive for project documentation. These costs, like the tuition fees, had to be paid in CFA, a currency that offered a meager exchange rate of 380 CFA to 1,000 naira. To make ends meet, Elijah took on different jobs.

“I started exchanging money from Naira to CFA, working at a magazine company, and even doing Master of Ceremony jobs for schools and events. The pay wasn’t worth the effort, but I had no choice.” 

As graduation approaches, the reality of finding a job sets in. Many students worry about employment, especially with the current state of the economy. The pressure to have a plan before leaving school adds to their anxiety. 

However, career experts advise students to start networking early, seek internships, and develop skills that can make them stand out in the labour market. For many students, joining the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) brings mixed feelings. While it offers a chance to learn new things and grow, the uncertainty of life after NYSC can be a bit scary.

Despite all the challenges, many final-year students keep moving forward. They lean on their friends, find support wherever they can, and remind themselves why they started.