Growing up, getting into the University of Cape Coast (UCC) was my biggest dream. I used to talk to my friends back in Senior High School about how I imagined my life at UCC.
I imagined a life filled with excitement, new friends, and endless opportunities.
But nothing prepared me for how isolated and overwhelmed I would actually feel.
In my first year, I was miles away from my family, trying to balance coursework, social pressure, and my own expectations. It felt like everyone around me was thriving except me. Behind my smiles and late-night study sessions was a heavy, invisible weight I didn’t know how to carry. It was a real struggle for me.
The Silent Battles on Campus
At UCC, students often talk about academic pressure, but not enough about the emotional toll it takes.
I began to lose interest in things I once loved. I skipped lectures just to stay in bed, feeling paralyzed by fear and sadness I couldn’t explain. Even when I was surrounded by classmates at ATL (my hall of residence), I felt utterly alone.
I thought maybe I was just “weak” or “not trying hard enough.” I didn’t realize I was facing something real: depression.
Taking the First Brave Step
One afternoon, after nearly breaking down during a group presentation, I walked straight to the university’s counselling center. My hands trembled the whole time.
Sitting there, across from a counselor who actually listened, really listened, was the first time I felt a tiny crack of light breaking through my darkness. I wasn’t judged. I wasn’t dismissed. I was heard.
That small act of seeking help was the beginning of my healing journey.
Finding My Own Light
Therapy helped me name my feelings and find ways to manage them.
I learned that:
It’s okay to not be okay. Pretending doesn’t make the pain go away.
Asking for help isn’t a weakness. It’s one of the bravest things you can do.
Self-care is essential. For me, it meant journaling, spending time by the beach, and setting healthier boundaries around my time.
Slowly, my world began to open up again. I found a few true friends who understood and supported me. I started enjoying little things again — a walk on the UCC campus at sunset, a spontaneous dance party in my hostel, a night of deep conversation with someone who really got it.
To Anyone Struggling at UCC (Or Anywhere)
You are not broken.
>You are not a burden.
>You are a whole person who deserves love, support, and healing.
Please don’t suffer in silence. The University of Cape Coast offers resources. There are people who want to walk alongside you through your pain. If sharing my story helps even one person realize they aren’t alone, it will have been worth it.
Remember: even in the darkest moments, light is still there. Sometimes you just need a little help finding it again.
“It’s okay not to be okay.” One thing I realized during my undergraduate studies was that we, the students, underutilized the counseling services that were freely available through the institution and easily accessible via our portal, but were often overlooked by most of us. I even have an article about it on my site.