Time to spill the beans that have been spilled by everyone I've talked to- yet for whatever reason, everyone feels like they're on their own.
Going to a strong university, well, makes you feel like a complete dumbass. All over campus, there's valedictorians, honor students, 5.0 high school geniuses wandering around. Yet somehow, a good portion of the student body feels like their confidence is being run over multiple times per day with an aggressive semi-truck.
I don't want to speak for anyone, because yeah, you could be the person who does extremely well in college, and I'm really happy for you but I'm going to be honest, I am not that person.
If you're feeling like you want to drop out and move to an island without a messed up class scale and fear whenever a new grade is posted, just know, you are absolutely not alone.
1. I was lazy and got away with it
Yeah, nope, definitely not naturally super smart and great at school. I just happened to be good enough at memorizing and finessing the high school system without realizing it.
2. College curriculum is completely different
I aced high school biology and chemistry, so I'll be fine in college, right?? More like I threw my soul into studying, and was barely passing exams (but I did pass and that's all that matters eh).
3. Expectations for grades change
If you were like me, before coming to your hard university, anything below an A or A- put you into life crisis mode. Now, I'm soaring high as long as I'm at least close to the average grade in the class- no matter what that grade happens to be.
4. Going to class matters
I missed a lot of high school, and didn't pay much attention when I did go, yet got the grades I wanted. Now, I blink and eye and I'm 6 lectures behind, late on a paper and forgot to attend 4 lectures. Actually though, how is this possible.
5. C's get degrees
I'm getting a tattoo of this whenever the hell I finish all of my schooling... so like, 40 ish.
6. Exams don't show effort
Okay, maybe it was me going into school naive, but I figured if I at least put in my best effort, my grade would somewhat show it. ~Nope!~ Especially in introductory courses, watch your back for the snake professors.
7. What. Am. I. Paying. For.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but if I'm paying thousands upon dollars for a class, shouldn't I be learning something from the lectures rather than having to teach myself an entire class by reading a thick book? Not to mention, a book where I recognize maybe 6 of the words.
8. Hi, yeah what does it feel like to be smart????
I can't remember the last time I took an exam and was like yep, I aced that sh*t. I'm not throwing myself a pity party at all, but it's such a weird concept. Going from being at the top of my school to trying harder per week in college than I did in high school combined, yet seeing no good results is so abstract.
9. As long as I try my hardest, it's good enough
Like I mentioned before, it used to be A's or I would be upset. At this point, I decided that I'm no longer going to lose so much happiness or sleep (so.... SO much sleep has been lost) over one exam, or even one class.
As long as I put in a good effort and did my best, that's what matters. I'm over 18-hour week-long study benders– one test isn't worth it.
