Being a college student in an urban place, such as New York City, can become a hassle. Not only do we have to worry about our grades every semester, but we also receive stress by the simple reason of commuting in the city. The importance for City Tech students is to add walking through the park to their commute would be beneficial for them . Nature is significant to our mental health because it relieves stress, and as a college student that is crucial. It can also be beneficial because it sharpens your memory and it keeps you more aware of your surroundings.
The usual route that I take to City Tech is the most effective one for me, but it does not benefits’ me in absorbing nature. I take the R train, from a block away from my home to Jay St-Metro Tech. It only takes me five minutes to get to City Tech and then I get stuck inside for four hours daily. Just describing my usual route, it already stresses me out. As soon as I wake up, I get enclosed inside the subway, only to come out and become confined in college. This might be a common feeling for City Tech students. In New York Times, the article “How Walking in Nature Changes the Brain” by Gretchen Reynolds mentions, “Various studies have found that urban dwellers with little access to green spaces have a higher incidence of psychological problems than people living near parks and that city dwellers who visit natural environments have lower levels of stress hormones […]”. This is common in New York City and it is relatable to everyone, not just college students. That is why the different route that I have decided on is more beneficial. The reason being, that the ten to fifteen minutes walk, from High St. to City Tech passes by a park.
Although, this route still involves passing by grey tall buildings, the moment you walk inside the park to get to the street you need to cross is a great feeling. The feeling of suffocation of the buildings disappears, along with your stress and thoughts. The park is like a mini-meditation spot, breathing in the fresh air that the trees provide us with, becomes a blessing. Hearing the birds chirp and watching the squirrels live their daily life becomes relaxing. Tress line up , showing me the path to this free and easy journey putting my mind at ease. This route will be even better during the middle of the semester. When there is a lot of work to do, especially when finals start to come in. In the article, “13 Mental Health Benefits of Exercise”, by Sophia Breene, she mentions a lot of different ways that walking or any exercise can do to our body and mental health. But I am going to focus more on the mental health side because that is vital in a college student’s way of living. Breene mentions, “Exercise also increases concentrations of nor epinephrine, a chemical that can moderate the brain’s response to stress. So, go ahead and get sweaty — working out can reduce stress and boost the body’s ability to deal with existing mental tension”. Walking is considered an exercise. Therefore, it is important to incorporate a walk of ten to fifteen minutes in your daily schedule to reduce stress. It does not only have to be related to college stress, but also, personal stress. Having mental tension is awful and if a bit of walking can fix the problem a bit.
Not only does walking in the park reduce stress, but it can also sharpen your memory, which is favorable college students. Breene comments that, “Regular physical activity boosts memory and ability to learn new things”. This adds more positive feedback to the new route I’ve decided because if it becomes part of a City Tech walker’s routine, it can benefit them greatly. Having the capacity to have a better memory and to learn new things is significant as a college student. The majority of us wish that we had that ability naturally, but if there is a way to fix it then might as well take advantage. To realize that such a simple routine, such as walking for a certain amount of time can do so much is quite surprising. It is only a matter of waking up earlier and trying your best to see the positive side of taking the alternative route. It is always great to spice things up, especially when it come with positive mental health benefits.
The different route I have decided on has many beneficial things to offer City Tech walkers. Walking for a few minutes can change a lot within your mental health. It is useful because it can make you grow more as a college student and prepare you, mentally for anything school related. Having a unique connection to nature may sound cheesy, but it is scientifically proven that it can reduce stress and boost your memory. As a college student myself, I find this very important because in order to succeed in classes, your mental health needs to be prioritized. If the stress you have cannot be relieved in any way, then it can intervene with your studies and grades. This is why I think my alternative route is worth a City Tech walker their time and effort. It will benefit them mentally speaking, which is important. Especially, in a city like New York.
Works Cited
Breene, Sophia “13 Mental Health Benefits Of Exercise.” Huffington Post 27, March, 2013
Gretchen, Reynolds“How Walking in Nature Changes the Brain.” The New York Times 22, July, 2015
