In the midst of midterms, it is easy to be consumed by tests, homework, and quizzes. It is even easier to become discouraged by bad grades. I mentioned a failing test grade in a previous article and there is a very good chance that I am still upset about it. Nonetheless, there is nothing worse than feeling like the stupidest one in class. Your list of responsibilities as a student can seem endless.

As my hair stylist washed my hair, she asked me how my semester was going. I told her that school was kicking my butt. She stopped shampooing and said, "In twenty years, you won't remember the stress of this semester, but rather, college as a whole." My first reaction was to get defensive and say that she didn't understand what the day-to-day college experience was like. Yet, as I mulled over her remark, I realized that she was right. It is hard for us students to see the bigger picture.

If college was for easy, everyone would get a degree. It is not supposed to be a cake walk. We often forget that we are SUPPOSED to put in effort outside of showing up to class. To be honest, I see college as an investment for my future. It is a privilege for me to be able to expand my knowledge in a field that actually interests me. While this perspective often gets blurry, it is something to keep in mind and can provide hope in the midst of the busiest days.

Furthermore, we will not be in school forever. Achieving a bachelor's degree only takes four years to complete. As a whole, those four years are flying by. I feel like I was a freshman just yesterday. At graduation, I will remember the midnight milkshakes with good company instead of the stress of midterm week. The college experience offers other things besides stress. You basically have all of your best friends in one spot. You have professors and departments who want to help you grow and succeed. The stress is momentary and in the times when it becomes too much, you are never alone.

I am not discrediting the struggle that is college. My weeks and responsibilities are like waves. I either have nothing to do or things tend to be due all at once. That really sucks, but its' the nature of the game. I am just saying that it is crucial to remember the bigger picture. The stress, like everything else on this earth, is only temporary. Take time for yourself. Consider that feeling that you get when you walk out of a test that you studied all night for. That feeling is liberating.

School is important, but it is not everything. You will graduate. You will get a great job. Believe that and believe in yourself.