Blog Post 5: Starting Research

For our next project I have decided to write about emotional support animals and the benefits they provide students, especially college students.  I chose this topic because I think it’s so interesting how just being in the presence of an animal can relieve so much stress.

Throughout my essay I will write about the many different ways in which animals benefit college students not only mentally, but academically as well.  Right now in order to have permission to have an emotional support animal on campus you have to go through a strenuous process.  I want to guide you through these steps and suggest a way they could make this process a little easier.  Another difficulty many students face when trying to register their animal is that many colleges are picky about the types of animals they allow on their campuses.  I agree that there has to be some restrictions, but emotional support pets shouldn’t just be narrowed down to dogs and cats.

I believe my topic is narrowed down and is specific.  Although this is not a pressing issue to many people, I think it’s beneficial to discuss.  Now, more than ever people, especially college students, are facing mental illnesses such as stress, anxiety and depression. The effects of these mental illnesses can be detrimental to a students life socially and academically.  Emotional support animals are helping college students everywhere around the world cope with these illnesses.  Even students who are not affected by mental illnesses benefit from interacting with them.  All and all emotional support animals provide great stress relief and make everyones day a little brighter.