College is a time for growth, change, and finding yourself. It is extremely hard to find yourself when you are getting lost in the pressures and stigmas of society. Every student struggles in different ways with different things. However, every student needs to hear these seven truths to push through and finish what they started.
1. Your grades do not define you.
Yes, your GPA is important. I am not saying we shouldn't care about our grades. I am saying we are more than just our grades. That one test you failed in math this semester is not going to matter in the long run. Don't put yourself down for one mistake in one class during one semester in school. You can pull up your average, and you will. You are defined by other things, such as your compassion, your beliefs, your honesty, and your treatment of other people. I don't choose my friends based on their grades. I choose them based on the incredible qualities they each possess that they are slowly teaching me or that they have in common with me.
2. Don't be pressured by other people.
There will be times when others won't agree with your beliefs or opinions. There will be times when you want to do one thing, but the world is screaming at you to do another. Listen to yourself. Your friends cannot decide how you live your life or what you do on the weekends. If you just really want to stay in and watch a movie instead of going out, pop some popcorn and just do it. If you don't agree with something your friends have all decided to support, don't feel pressured to support it. If you listen to what everyone around you is telling you to do, you will regret a lot of decisions.
3. You are enough.
I don't think college students are told this often enough. We are told to do better, try harder, and compare ourselves to others all the time. We are rarely told we are doing a great job and to be proud of ourselves. I am blessed with parents who tell me all the time that I am an amazing kid and that as long as I am trying my hardest they are always going to be proud of me. Young adults face so many pressures to be the best, but sometimes we just need a second to catch our breath and live.
4. It is perfectly acceptable to eat that whole bag of chips sometimes.
Girls will especially relate to this, but the men out there need to hear it too. Eat the bag of chips. Because we are constantly comparing ourselves to those around us, there is a pressure to be thin and look a certain way. Sometimes you just have to let go for a night and enjoy yourself. College is stressful, but friends and food are a fun way to relax after a long week. I personally love having movie nights with my best friends and ordering pizza and drinking Coke. Yes, real Coca-Cola is even okay in moderation.
5. Don't go home every weekend.
Homesickness is a real thing. Trust me, I understand. However, if you choose to go home every weekend while at college, you are going to miss out on a lot of lifelong memories with friends. You will look back one day and regret that you didn't go to that party even though it was a dumb idea. You will regret not participating in your college's homecoming weekend activities. One day, you will be ready to share your crazy college stories with your children (after they are out of college and can't get any ideas from you), but you won't have as many stories as you wish you did.
6. Everyone messes up.
Don't be so hard on yourself when you make a mistake. It is not the end of the world, and tomorrow is a new day. Fix what you messed up, reflect on how to do things differently next time, and move on. What's done is done, and you cannot change it.
7. Not everyone is meant to stay in your life.
We have all heard that some people come into your life as a blessing while some come into your life as a lesson. I have had my fair share of both blessings and lessons throughout my time at college. I have had friends who have been there from the beginning, cheering me on while I accomplish things and lending a shoulder to cry on during hard times. I have also had friends who came and went too quickly. I know these people are no longer in my life for a reason, but it is not easy. It is something we must trust. I will admit, I have learned a lot about changes I need to make in myself because of these people. Although I may have been crushed or full of hatred at the time, I cannot regret those relationships because they taught me something valuable.
These four years are your time to live life to the fullest. You will not get these four years back, so live it up. Although I don't encourage anything that could land you in the back of a cop car, I do believe a healthy dose of fun is good. Just because you don't know the outcome doesn't mean you shouldn't take a chance. Stay true to yourself, and don't let these hard years get you down. You will make it!
