Halfway through college, two more years (and grad school) until I am finally finished being a student, and I still find myself under pressure even though classes haven't even started yet

The first day of school is never easy. There is always divide between excitement and anxiousness; well for me, that is. We’ve all been there, and every year seems to bring something different. In one week I will be a junior in college, which means that in one year I will be a senior, and in two years I will (hopefully) have a full-time job, and in three, who knows?

Every “first day” marks a new chapter of life, and I’ve taught myself to never hold high expectations, or any expectations at all really. I know that sounds pretty depressing, but I do it because sometimes I think it’s good for me. I’d rather not be let down by my own expectations. We can easily be caught up fantasizing about how one year is going to be amazing, how this year, everything is going to be different. They’re like new year’s resolutions (or "school year resolutions"; they never actually come true (usually). At first a joke, but in all seriousness, I was only half kidding that for 4 years now I posted on Facebook that my new year’s resolution was to “fit into those new pair of jeans I bought a few months ago.”

Never happened. Maybe if I took it more seriously it would have happened? Maybe if people took their expectations and resolutions more seriously things might actually change?

But let’s stop with the “what if’s.” Every year people make resolutions and set up expectations for themselves. What ever happened to setting goals for yourself? I'm sure we all do it. My goal for this year is ______ and ______. But usually (not speaking for everyone here) they're forgotten.

The dictionary states that an expectation is “a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future.” Expectations are simply based on a gut feeling of hope. However, a goal is described as “the object of a person's ambition or effort.” The two are obviously different. So, why don’t we take those expectations and turn them into goals? Let’s make an effort to accomplish what we want to and can do.

Start by writing them down. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, but it should become a daily reminder. If you can, try to have a daily routine in the morning or at night, even better, both! Give yourself 10 minutes of quiet time to rethink and re-evaluate. If it's something more specific, like running a marathon by the end of the year, grab a physical calendar and create tasks. What's also important is that you write down what you've already accomplished as an encouragement and a reminder.

However, this doesn't always work, especially for me. In Page After Page by Heather Sellers, she explains how you need to fall in love to create a writing life. "When you are in love, truly and passionately, you don't have to write down in your daily schedule Spend quality time with Lover today. You can't not."

Know what needs to come first and the rest will fall into place. If you pour your heart, mind, and strength into the right place, you can meet your goals.