Before you leave for college, everyone tells you that it's going to be harder than high school. What they don't tell you is that it's much, much harder. Failing is a very real thing. There are no retakes or bonus points because you did poorly. Professors don't really care what's going on in your life, they just want you to get their work done. If you fail, well, there's nothing you can do.

Sometimes it's just one homework assignment that's only worth two points so you can move on, other times it's a test that really affects your grade and you don't know whether you can bring it up or not, and the thought of dropping a class makes you cringe. Finding out that you're not as good as you thought you were is a horrifying and numbing feeling. You don't know what to do or where to start to fix it because, when it comes down to it, you only see yourself as a failure.

Through all this pain and negativity you learn one thing, determination. From these failures, you realize that you might have to try harder in your class than other people do. It might take you longer to learn something, so you have to study harder. Figure out what works for you and let that drive you to succeed. Get a tutor or a study partner, or just work your butt off. Whatever you do, do not give up. College isn't for quitters and if that's you, the door's over there. College is about learning, and in learning academically, you also learn about yourself. You learn more about your character and who you are as a person. Learn from your mistakes and continue without being discouraged and you will learn so much. Do not let your failures define you, only let them shine through who you are, even when it's hard to keep your head up. College is hard but don't let it knock you down without getting back up.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12