Especially with the new semester, it is exceedingly daunting to ask for help. Even when you've made mistakes last semester and see all the things you should be doing (getting a tutor, going to office hours, forming a study group), students are still intimidated by their professors and peers. I've learned through my years of tutoring other students that asking for help is anything but a sign of weakness. Admitting that you need help is a strength. Without help, people would blunder for hours, days, and years — communication with others incites thoughts and innovations. Society itself would be nothing without help from others.

So, why should you be absolutely fearless and get the help you need? First off, people want to help. Especially here at Georgia Tech, everyone always wants to help each other succeed; competition doesn't exist. We build on each other to create our best selves.

Although they may seem intimidating, professors, upperclassmen, and peers are all just people. They've been where you are and they understand. They genuinely want to see you succeed. By showing extra interest to a professor, you're showing that you are invested in that course and that you care about your education enough to find out how to work through your problems.

And, even when you struggle with homework, making mistakes is always the best way to learn. By figuring out the ways not to do things, you learn the most efficient ways to solve problems. Yes, you should allow yourself time to struggle on your homework and with concepts enough that you can try to teach yourself. But, there's a certain point at which another person's guidance can make all the difference. After all, two heads are better than one.

The best part about getting help is that you will feel infinitely less intimidated after going to office hours or tutoring; thus, you feel encouraged to go back many times after. When you look around at your peers, many students seek help every day, and it is nothing to be ashamed of. When you're investing tens of thousands of dollars every semester in going to school, there's no reason not to ask for help. Instead, there's every reason to utilize every resource offered by the school and the people who support your education.