Having A Pet In College
Having a pet is both emotionally satisfying and responsible at the same time. Thus, owning a pet while attending college undoubtedly has its advantages and disadvantages. Realizing that many students explore this issue, it’s important to consider its key aspects. It is an indisputable fact that dog or cat owners feel that their pets have a positive impact on physical and emotional health. After all, they become a therapy tool in times of stress. But at the same time, caring for an animal and providing it with comfortable living conditions may not be so easy in a college setting. Thus, it is worth taking a closer look at the obvious pros and cons of this issue and how it affects students.
Getting Everything Done
Before we discuss in more detail the fascinating topic of owning a pet while in college, you should consider the following. Caring for a pet usually requires a lot of time. Students don’t have much of it. Moreover, when you need to concentrate on your academic work, it often seems that you don’t have enough time for everything. Especially when it comes to essay paper writing and research projects, which require in-depth knowledge, relevant quality, and meeting deadlines.
However, thanks to the appropriate online services, you can access high-quality writers who are professionals in their field. They will provide you with round-the-clock expert help in completing assignments or writing essays and research papers in the best possible way. Such qualified assistance in everything related to your studies will help you find more time to care for and nurture your pet. Still, as promised above, let’s move on to a more detailed discussion of this issue further.
Obvious Pros and Possible Cons
In contrast to the obvious benefits such as physical health and emotional well-being, pets can also be a source of stress for college students. The real strain comes when you need to balance a busy schedule of academic courses with caring for your pet.
Benefits
Support and emotional health
Animals become supportive sources for students in a stressful learning environment. Therefore, pet care has a positive impact on students’ emotional health and overall mood.
A connection to home
Dogs and cats create a sense of connection and provide students with a sense of companionship in their new college environment. This is very important when changing from a home environment to a completely new one, which is college.
Improved mood
The presence of a pet can lift a student’s mood during difficult periods in their studies. Communication with a dog or cat can often help reduce stress and improve emotional well-being.
Teaching responsibility
Keeping a pet in college helps students develop responsibility. After all, no one is responsible for the care and comfort of the animal but the owner. This teaches students important life skills and develops responsibility, which will be an indispensable quality for overcoming the future challenges of adulthood.
Cohesion and comfortable atmosphere
The presence of a pet does not only create a sense of comfort. It often contributes to the cohesion of the college community. This cohesion creates a favorable emotional atmosphere for communication and interaction between students.
Possible Cons
Restricted conditions
Certain institutions do not allow pets in dormitories or on college property. So, you need to think about this issue in advance. This way, you will not have an unpleasant surprise when you arrive at the school with your pet and must return it home.
Expenses
Pet owners should be prepared for financial expenses. It is not just the cost of pet food, but also medical care and other costs related to the animal’s upkeep.
Training and schedule
Balancing your studies and pet care can be a challenge for students. The latter can lead to unnecessary stress. Therefore, everything should be planned and agreed upon in advance.
Summary
Summarizing all the above, we can see that keeping a pet in college has both positive and negative aspects. Each of them should be considered when making your final decision. Among the advantages, we can especially highlight the improvement of emotional state and a sense of home, the presence of someone close. This will certainly reduce the student’s stress in an unfamiliar environment. The development of responsibility and time management skills is also an undeniable advantage. Among the possible disadvantages are potential inconsistencies in study time and the cost of keeping the animal. As well as the peculiarities of each institution regarding the permission to keep animals on their premises.
So now, understanding all the nuances of this issue, you can make the right decision that will be comfortable for both you and your pet.
Stella Gary
Author and host of a blog about the exciting life of students. Researcher of the challenges they face. Essay writer on a variety of topics in the humanities and psychology.
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I find it surprising that dogs can help improve your mood and alleviate intrusive thoughts throughout your college life. I have a cousin who plans to live on their own while pursuing their master’s. I should talk to them about finding a puppy breeder who can help out in adopting a dog.