Classes have started and the semester is in full swing. As the infamous September sledgehammer approaches us and classes become more demanding, it is important to remain mindful of the things that really count. School is important, and as a college student, it becomes the center of one’s universe. However, devoting all your energy to countless essays, lab reports, readings, or case studies quickly becomes draining and repetitive; it is a simple task to inadvertently lose oneself within the stacks of paper school envelopes pupils in. However, with a little effort, you too can avoid orbiting around academic expectations and keep living your life to the fullest.
You can’t win them all
College offers a unique mix of classes for each student that enrolls. This allows for a customized education fueled by passions and potential careers. However, in order to keep the students of the school well-rounded, there is a requirement take classes that won’t be in your strong suit. In this situation, the overachievers go to outrageous lengths to avoid what is likely an inevitable: a grade they do not want. Everyone says it, but here’s the beauty of getting a less than ideal grade: it does not define you. As you grapple for strategies to combat the soul-crushing stress of the imminent absence of success in a particular class, here are some important truths to stay mindful of:
Your major is where you should excel
It’s okay to stumble through a gen-ed that you know is outside of your strengths, it’s checking a box that is helping you advance your degree. Your major should be where you shine, whether or not you’ve declared it or not, this should be where you give it 110%. This because, ideally, your future career will relate to your degree in some way. If you’re a math major, it’s okay to not be the star student in your writing seminar; it is very likely the English majors are drowning in their required math classes. Recognizing your strengths and weaknesses is vital to your mental well-being as a student.
before you are a student, you are a human
It is so easy to get swept up in deadlines, readings, and other school related responsibilities. There will be periods where school takes up the highest percentage of your time. As a student and a human, it is your responsibility to reclaim the time that school takes up and use it to do something you enjoy. This can be participating in a hobby, hanging out with friends, or allowing yourself a well deserved day of rest. This gives you time to recharge, combating burnout and letting you to take time to discover who are you outside of school. Since academics are a major part of every college student’s life, it takes effort to establish balance between yourself as a student and yourself as a person. However, college is the first time many people get to experience freedom and explore who they are without pressure from parents or the environment they grew up in. Taking time to figure out what brings you joy is the first step to separating your self worth to your GPA.
your worth is higher than you know
One’s life is not defined by what they did for a living; on your deathbed people will not be sentimental about how strong of a student you were or how successful you were in your career, they’ll remember your presence. You will be grieved for who you are, not what you did. Therefore, it is vital to equate yourself to a higher purpose than being an a stellar student. Take the time to decide what will be impactful to you and others within your life. Leverage your strengths to become a well-rounded human, not a well-rounded student. School will not be forever, but you will always be yourself, therefore it is vital for you to seperate yourself from your grades; once you do, it will be a freeing experience.