{"id":169797,"date":"2026-02-18T14:35:32","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T14:35:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/169797\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T14:35:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T14:35:32","slug":"when-heartbreak-happens-but-the-show-must-go-on-the-prospector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/169797\/","title":{"rendered":"When heartbreak happens, but the show must go on \u2013 The Prospector"},"content":{"rendered":"

As students at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) navigate classes and campus life, some also face another challenge: heartbreak. The end of a relationship can disrupt routines and make it harder to focus on school, work and personal responsibilities.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Still, some UTEP students say despite the difficulties they pose, breakups have taught them to redirect their energy instead of shutting down.\u00a0By focusing\u00a0on academics, friendships, and personal goals, they say heartbreak, while painful, can become a moment for healing and self-reflection rather than a setback.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

For Joaquin Rascon, a junior computer science major, breakups have been less about shutting down and more about redirecting energy. Rascon said he copes by immersing himself in what matters most.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI put all my energy\u00a0towards\u00a0the things that I love. When it comes to Preview (opens in a new tab)<\/a>school, I put\u00a0all of\u00a0my energy in there because\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0important to me at that time,\u201d Rascon said. \u201cJournaling also helps because you get to express your thoughts and you get to express how you feel. Even when\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0not going through a breakup, journaling helps.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rascon also relies on physical activity and music to manage the emotional weight that comes with heartbreak. Running, he said, allows him to release stress while processing difficult emotions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI love to run, so I\u2019ll take it out on a run, or I\u2019ll listen to music and just vibe\u00a0out to it,\u201d Rascon said. \u201cI let that energy out.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sophomore sociology major Camila Calderon described breakups as disruptive events that arrive without warning and\u00a0immediately\u00a0rearrange daily life.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cA breakup is\u00a0a very big\u00a0change in your life\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0super abrupt, so it is going to cause a lot of chaos in your normal routine.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0best to at least try to do the bare minimum than try to do everything at once,\u201d Calderon said. \u201cIt\u2019s not the end of the world.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sophomore psychology major Nevaeh Rodriguez shared a similar experience after going through a breakup before the fall semester began. She said surrounding herself with friends and redirecting her focus toward academics helped her recover.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way I got over it was just by being around my friends,\u201d Rodriguez said. \u201cAnd honestly, putting the energy that I would put into the relationship into school, into studying.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rodriguez described the process as reclaiming her time and turning it into something productive while being mindful of how relationships\u00a0impact\u00a0their well-being and goals.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u00a0kind of just\u00a0subbed out that time for\u00a0\u2018me time.\u2019 Me time also includes my friends and my studies.\u201d Rodriguez said. \u201cIf you\u2019re not happy and they\u2019re not helping you or bettering you, then it\u2019s a distraction, and you don\u2019t need it.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Both Rascon and Rodriguez emphasized the importance of leaning on support systems during difficult moments. Rascon encouraged students\u00a0going\u00a0through heartbreak to\u00a0open up\u00a0rather than isolate themselves.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cTalk to the people that you love,\u201d Rascon said. \u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0good to\u00a0open up\u00a0to the right people because they really care about you. Even when they\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0understand you a hundred percent,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0good for them to hear you out. Just know that\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0not alone when it comes to it.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

While college breakups can feel overwhelming, UTEP students say the experience often leads to growth, self-reflection\u00a0and renewed focus. Through academics, friendships,\u00a0and healthy coping strategies, students are learning that heartbreak, though painful, can become a turning point.<\/p>\n

Fred\u00a0Kepfield\u00a0is a contributor writer for\u00a0The Prospector\u00a0and may be reached at\u00a0[email\u00a0protected]<\/a><\/p>\n

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