This far in college, I have managed to create the perfect semester schedules -- a mix of easier and harder classes and a few major related courses with a couple of Gen-Ed requirements. Both semesters were a dream to schedule. There were no 8 a.m. classes and, typically, only two classes per day with some days being done before noon. Then, it came time to schedule sophomore year classes. Suddenly, it seemed like there weren’t enough classes at the times I needed, and every class conflicted with the other. I realized that putting off my science requirement was not the best idea, especially as someone with a phobia of science and math.
I also began to realize the seriousness of studying abroad in Spain for a semester of my sophomore year. If my science requirement conflicted with my Spanish class, which was I to choose? Forgo Spanish the semester before going to Spain? Attempt to take chem/bio over the summer when I already planned on working two jobs, taking other classes, and preparing for my last competitive season of tennis? If my political science requirement conflicted with both Spanish and science then which do you choose? The confusion of trying to understand which classes would be available abroad and which weren’t going to be available is also a fun time. Wondering whether or not you would be able to finish enough major requirements in your first two years is an interesting dilemma as well. Then, the concern of graduating in four years decides to plague your mind. Then, you begin questioning if you should change majors because are you even on track to finish this one? And why did you take that unnecessary sociology class again (though it was fun, to be honest.)?
This is usually when you begin buying lottery tickets or researching the salary for a full time Uber driver to avoid finishing your degree. I’m sure there are others that have gone through this moment. It’s a difficult moment to get your head out of. At the time, it seems like there is no way to finish what you’ve been working towards. It seems like every possible pathway and option is being destroyed in front of you. To be blunt, it kind of sucks. When your mind is at this point, it just continues to go down the worst possible situations.
I’d say I’m still at this place, and for this reason -- I can’t simply end this with an, “It’ll be OK,” message. I think that’s a nearly impossible mentality to have when you’re questioning the validity of the thousands of dollars that your degree costs. I think a more realistic outlook to have is reminding you that so many other people have completed your degree and they’ve done it in four years. They’ve managed to have time to be involved in school, work, have a social life, and get that 4.0 (ish) GPA. You’re not the only one trying to get there and somehow you’ll find a way. Maybe it won’t be the path you expected to take or it’s not the way you wanted things to go, but something will happen. It won’t be “OK” at times, but that’s the struggle of college. You can only do so much.
What you’re facing now is a fear of the future -- not a fear of the present problems. You’re worried that everything you’re doing now won’t pay off in the future. That’s a legitimate stress and at some point in all of our college careers, we’re going to experience that stress.
However, we’re going to make it through somehow and this will all be worth it. As Troy from "High School Musical" would say -- we’re all in this together.
