Let me just start this off by saying college by no means is a race. If you're anything like myself you might be feeling discouraged that you aren't finishing your degree in four years. But listen, it's okay! I myself am still coming to terms with the whole idea of not graduating with the class that I started a part of. But let me tell you what I've learned.

I learned that a ton of popular majors take five years to finish a four-year degree. I learned that colleges change programs all the time. Especially anytime a law changes or a new law gets put in place, programs change to fit these laws. You might be feeling super annoyed that you have to take extra classes, but breathe, it's only bettering you and your education. More classes your college adds just means more education and knowledge in your field. It, in the end, is only further preparing you for your career.

I also learned that real college classes are nothing like the college classes you take in high school. While I earned real college credits my senior year of high school, that class was about 1,000 times easier than any class I've taken on a college campus. Don't overwhelm yourself to the point where you can't focus or you won't be doing your best. If you can only focus on 12 credits at a time and not 18, it's totally okay. It's better for you to focus on what you can handle and maintain a good grade point average instead of forcing yourself to take a ton of classes just to graduate on time. Go part time if you have to, it's still better than stressing yourself out to the point where you don't even want to learn, you just want to pass.

Yet, I also learned that life has a funny habit of getting in the way of your plans. I know for myself I had way too much going on the first semester my sophomore year so I took it off. Then I tried to take a full semester and summer classes to play catch up....it wasn't worth the stress, trust me. But speaking of life's funny habits, you may think you know what you want to do but it could end up changing. Changing majors is a pretty common thing among college students. If you changed your major don't feel bad that you aren't finishing on time, be grateful that you got the opportunity to take a peek into a field and you got to appreciate what somebody else does.

If you started late, you're probably going to finish late, but don't let that get you down. At least you're getting your degree and you're going to be doing something that you love.

Honestly, that's what's keeping me going. I get to be doing what I love. It's going to take longer than planned but it will be well worth the wait. Remember there is no "one size fits all" for college. Go at your own pace, take your time, keep on pushing and your college career will be over in no time.

Whether its four years or seven years, you're going to wear that black cap and gown and walk that stage.