College. One of the best and worst times of your entire life. Many expect that you don’t know anything because you are just a millennial, but you are supposed to have your whole life together. You’re supposed to spend hours studying, some nights with little to no sleep. Some nights crying yourself to sleep. Only to wake up in the morning to do it again. To doubt yourself. You’re expected to work a decent paying job, on top of finding time for your friends. But how dare you go out drinking when you have a test next week. How dare you watch a little Netflix. How dare you not put all your focus into school. I am 21 years old, I don’t even really know myself yet, how in the world am I supposed to have my whole life together?! I’m here to tell you, I don’t have my life together and not even close, but THAT’S OKAY! It’s just fine if I don’t want to dedicate my whole life to school. It’s fine if I need to slow down so I can do well. It’s okay if it takes me a little longer. And it’s definitely okay for me to let loose and have fun. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring for me, or you. Or him or her. But what I do know is that it’s okay to be okay. You’re going to graduate, you’re going to be that teacher or lawyer or doctor or garbage man. You’re going to do great things. And my friend, that’s all because you had a struggle. I’ve often heard the quote “good things don’t come easy” and oh how this quote rings the truth. They truly don’t come easy. In order to be good in your chosen profession, (mine being teaching), you have to know the struggle. The struggle of sitting in those desks wondering if you’re ever going to make it out alive. When you struggle, you’ll relate. And that is the most important thing. As I have struggled with school and life recently, I’ve decided to tell myself some things to help boost my confidence. Hopefully through me sharing these it will help others too.

You are strong. And that is why you aren’t giving up. No matter how many times you’ve wanted to, you still keep on keeping on.

You can do this. And you will do this. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of something so wonderful than one who knows the struggle.

Your life is not over. You are still breathing. You are still loved. Even with one less class.

You are smart. Just because you are struggling does NOT in any way, shape, or form mean you aren’t smart. You wouldn’t have made it this far if you weren’t.

You are going to be okay. It may seem hard now and not worth it. But once you walk across that stage you are going to appreciate it so much more. Because you struggled!

You are still young, you shouldn’t have to feel like your whole life is falling apart. It’s going to be okay, and you will make it through. Just keep your faith, you strength, but most importantly, keep your dream.