We are getting to that time of year again where everything seems super hard ad we just want to quit at life. It has become crunch time with our school work. You have spent too much time with your friends. You have no money. And you just want to go home. Right?

1. Remember why you started

You came to college for a reason; whether that be your parents made you or you aspire to be the next leading doctor or engineer or musician you applied to attend college for a reason. You aren’t paying thousands of dollars to be miserable, you are making a name for yourself and it will all be worth it in the end. For me, I am here to prove everyone who said I couldn’t be a doctor wrong.

2. Remember who inspires you

Everyone has someone (sometimes more than one person) who inspires them to follow their dreams. As cliché as it sounds think about that person, think about what pushes you to be the very best you can be. If you’re like me, you’re inspired by your mom (who doubles as your best friend). My mom is not only my inspiration but someone I strive to be like. I am not only attending college for myself but for her and my family.

3. Remember that failures are also successes

Are you failing a class? Or maybe not achieving all the goals you want exactly when you want to? Keep that chin up, it happens to everyone. You cannot improve without failing at least one. Yes, you might have to take that class over again but use that negative energy as a motivator to be more successful than before. And remember, no, it will not kill you. Making mistakes means you’re actually doing something and learning.

4. Remember what makes you happy

In this time of year, it is incredibly important to de-stress to the best of your ability because it is only going to get more stressful from here on out. What is your best de-stressor activity? I personally find a lot of relief in going to the gym, painting and organizing everything. By de-stressing, you are releasing your “happy” hormone, and it will make you overall feel better and more confident.

And most importantly,

5. Remember that confidence is key

I have always been a person who has not been the most confident or optimistic person in the world. But a close friend of mine over that last year has shown me how important it is to be confident in yourself. Life is a mind game. If you tell yourself you’re going to fail a test, you’re not going to do well. If you tell yourself that you’re fat or overweight, working out isn’t going to help. You have to switch everything around and have a positive outlook on life. For me, I am the hardest on myself with my academics and test taking.

This semester I am retaking a class (for a higher grade) and I went into the semester with the “I am going to get an A” attitude. It is easily one of the hardest classes I have ever taken but I am maintaining a steady B. No, it may not be the exact grade I wanted but it is certainly significantly better than the last grade I had in it.

Whatever you are going through this semester, this year or even just today, remember to never give up! You are able to get through anything because you are incredibly strong, beautiful, handsome and able to do anything you set your mind to. Yes, college is hard, but so is life so keep your head up, stay positive, power through the day and remember there are people out there to support you always and it's OK to ask for help.