One’s passion, drive, and ambition can ultimately lead to success. These three adjectives have been instilled in my own mind throughout my entire academic career. In high school, the preconceived notion that every student should know what they want to do with their lives before the end of their senior year is widely popular. This concept held true to me throughout my four years in high school, and for a few semesters into my collegiate career. In my second year of high school, I was excelling in my chemistry course, and I became highly interested in the subject. My parents had mentioned a potential career in pharmacy, because of the copious chemistry curriculum. After doing research, I decided being a pharmacist was what I was destined to be.

Upon arriving at the University of Arizona, I decided to major in biochemistry. After my first semester in school, I decided this was not the right fit for me. Shortly after, I switched to the physiology major, which is my current one. Throughout my past two years at the U of A, I have faced various challenges along the way. Last spring, I challenged myself by taking on a difficult schedule filled with difficult curriculum. At the end of the semester, I received an email that I had been placed on academic probation. This came as a surprise to me. I knew I didn’t excell that semester, but I never imagined I would be placed on academic probation.

With the stress of family and self-pressure, I began to see that I had an anxiety that was associated with school. When I returned back to school in the fall, I was placed on the PASS program, for students on academic probation. This program helps students raise their GPA, as well as required basic counseling with a peer counselor. I was able to discuss challenges and hardships with another student that understood the amount of stress that I was going through. By the end of the semester, I had raised my GPA enough to be taken off of probation.

Throughout the semester, I learned some new and interesting things about myself. I had a newfound interest for politics, and I enjoyed the content more than any chemistry course that I had taken in my academic career thus far. This past spring, I decided to take a politics course. I excelled in the course and decided that it was something I was truly passionate about and could lead to a potential career. After the course ended, I decided to declare a minor in government and public policy. After taking different courses within my time at the U of A, I found something that I not only excelled in, but made me extremely happy.

If I had to give advice to an incoming freshman, I would advise them to explore their options and insist they make sure that their majors are something they could see themselves pursuing as a career.. I would also recommend that they not spending their time pleasing others, because then you will be unhappy and although grades are important, happiness is key to a fulfilling life. Take the class that is out of your comfort zone, explore new options, and find what makes you happy. Without passion, drive, and ambition, success is unattainable and frankly impossible.