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I promise you will get there.
I’ve been in college for a total of three years and I am JUST NOW officially classified as a “junior.” This means that I am a full year behind where I am technically supposed to be.
Confession time: I spent a full academic year (two semesters) at the University of Louisville right after I graduated from high school. My first semester went fairly well for being a first time college kid, living on-campus, over an hour away from home.
My second semester didn’t go so well. And by “not so well” I mean, I only passed two out of the five classes I was enrolled in. I basically gave up going to class because I was so unhappy, sick and ready to move back home.
With that being said, I wasted a full semester… (Sorry mom and dad).
Fast forward to today, I have turned my whole academic career around. I have undoubtedly worked my tail off every single semester. I’ve taken 15-16 credit hours every semester since I moved back home, while working 30+ hours a week.
Even though I am now a full-time UK student, with my writing career finally starting to show some life and success, there are still days when I feel like I am never going to graduate.
What makes matters worse is that I see all of my peers from high school who are one semester away from graduating with their Bachelor’s degree, they have killer internships and some even have jobs lined up for them after they graduate.
Although I am extremely happy for every single one of them, I do find myself feeling discouraged and jealous 95% of the time.
If you’re lucky enough to be one of those students who graduate from college in four years, I envy you.
But with that being said, on average it is taking college students 6 total years of college before they graduate.
“At most public universities, only 19 percent of full-time students earn a bachelor’s degree in four years, the report found. Even at state flagship universities — selective, research-intensive institutions — only 36 percent of full-time students complete their bachelor’s degree on time.” According to the New York Times. (https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/02/education/most-college-students-dont-earn-degree-in-4-years-study-finds.html)
**** Cue sigh of relief and a happy dance ****
Those statistics alone ease my envious and anxious brain.
My dad has told me every semester since my first semester at UofL that, “It doesn’t matter how long you take to finish, all that matters is that you finish.” On the days that I am up at 1am, studying for a big exam, with a world-wind of emotions overtaking me, because I feel like I am failing at this whole “college thing,” I remind myself of that very quote.
To all of those who feel like you’re never going to graduate from college…
Keep calm, study hard, drink your coffee and keep working your tail off.
You’re going to get there, I promise.