Written by Niamani Carlyle-Hollis, Staff Writer

Having a fear of something, whether it is large or small, can present an array of problems within itself. We tend to hold ourselves back or at a distance from things that we fear. Our fears may even be some of the biggest obstacles to overcome in our lives, so how do we do that? Here are a few tips on how to conquer any fear that you may have.

Don’t let your fears dictate your actions and run your life. Living your life in fear can cause you to hold yourself back and miss opportunities that may have been beneficial to you in some way.

Bills are going to come up, whether you like it or not. Learning how to manage your finances and being able to put back in case of an emergency can take a load off of your shoulders. Always remember that you are in college, and you are not expected to be rich. It is all a part of the “college struggle” per say.

Don’t make things that are uncertain certain. Though something may not work out for someone else, that does not mean that the same would apply for you. For instance, even though your friend may not have gotten a job when he/she graduated, circumstances may be different for you.

Always stay positive and never let fears and negativity influence who you are or who you can be.

Learn to face your fears head on. Once you learn to face your fears, you take back the power that they once had over your life.

What are your fears/worries now as a college student?

Laurance King, 24, Business Administration: “I am afraid of failure and not being successful in life, that it what pushes me to keep going and give me the drive to be the best that I can be. I’m afraid of that and clowns.”

Ty’neisha Bledsoe, 22, Nursing: “I’m afraid of bills and I know that that sounds crazy, but I am afraid of becoming so overwhelmed with bills and debt that I’ll spend the rest of my life paying them off and end up broke in the end. I work too hard in school for that to happen.”

Symphony White, 24, Accounting: “I’m afraid of not being able to get a job once I graduate. I don’t know if you have seem the meme where it says that a job requires you to have so much experience, but you can’t get that experience without getting a job. It’s scary and stressful.”

Akeem Roberts, 24, Middle Grades Education: “My biggest fear is being broke. I have experienced not having and it is not a good feeling, which is why I have trained myself to save, save, and save some more.”

Shacora Green, 22, Physical Therapy: “I am deathly afraid of bugs and I know that doesn’t have anything to do with college, but bugs are my biggest fear. All bugs are just creepy, whether they fly, crawl, jump or skip I hate them.”

Chris Brown, 22, Accounting: “I know that this is bad, but I fear becoming an alcoholic. I drink a lot. I know if I ever lose control of how much I drink then I will be well on my way to becoming one, so I have been managing my intake a lot better.”

Have more worries? Comment below with some of your worries after graduation.