As my first semester of college comes to a close, with exams behind me, the stress is beginning to lift. It was hectic, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. College can be summarized by many as living for the weekend—getting through the week just to make it to Friday (or Thursday), when you can forget about the midterm you just failed, the paper you still have to write, or the quiz you have yet to study for. But why do the weeks have to be so hard? Why do we dread every second and continuously complain? School is a privilege, not a burden—it’s time we start acting like it.

Many people are not as fortunate as we are to attend a university like Wisconsin or even college. Although it’s tough, it’s also a time to make friends, discover our passions, and build a foundation for our futures. Throughout the many grueling hours spent at the library studying for exams, writing final papers, and attempting to stay sane, we often forget why we are here and wish it all away.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the difficulty of college; you may even start to think that you should drop out and be a stripper or that bartending is your new calling, jokingly, of course. But for some people, these are their only options. While we sit in the library, posting pictures of places we’d rather be, others wish for nothing but to be where we are.

In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to take such an incredible privilege for granted. Every test we take, paper we turn in, and hour we spend studying is only propelling us to a place we someday hope to be. The time we spend in college is devoted to framing our futures. We should be clinging to every second because those seconds are making us that much more prepared.

We sometimes treat education like it’s an inconvenience, but not everyone has access to the same high level of education. If you work hard for it, you can become anything you want; work hard, apply yourself, and eventually someday your hard work will pay off. You will become the doctor, lawyer, teacher, or engineer that you set out to be. But many can only aspire, as their access to higher education may be severely limited.

School shouldn’t be another obligation. Going to class shouldn’t be another item on your checklist of things to do. Knowledge truly is power. Wake up each day and go to class because there are things you genuinely want to learn about. It follows that school will become less of a chore and more of something you love.

It doesn’t have to be your New Year’s resolution or a sticky note you put on your mirror, but with a new semester on the horizon, keep in the back of your mind that the keys to your success are in the classroom, just waiting for you to pick them up. So be eager, take risks, and never take your education for granted. College is more than a privilege; it’s a gift.