It's that time of the semester where things feel like they are piling up. A paper here, a project there, a meeting, a shift at work, the list goes on. Some people are able to handle all this and more with no problem and no help needed. Some (myself included) are convinced they do handle it well, but in reality, don't always find themselves in the greatest position. Sometimes people crack under pressure and don't know how to put themselves back together again on their own... and that's okay.

College is hard, everyone knows this. It's no secret. It can be easy to fall behind or get lost over the duration of the semester. I know that's true for me. I recently found myself stressed about one of my journalism classes. I had consistently been running into issue after issue, which made me feel like I wasn't good enough, that I didn't have what it takes to succeed in the j-school. I kept quiet about how I was feeling for a while, but finally decided to talk to my roommates about it. Being able to get my thoughts off my chest gave me a sense of relief, but I was still missing something.

After receiving an email from my professor about a first draft, I came to the conclusion that it was time to talk to him. That meeting lifted a weigh from my shoulders. I felt more relaxed and more confident about my abilities. Hearing both his concern and praise allowed me to reflect on what my strengths and weaknesses are. Now, instead of going into my assignments blinded, I have a plan and concrete goals to work toward.

The moral of the story here is that it's okay to admit to yourself and others that you're going down the wrong path. It's okay to talk to someone, whether it be close friends or a professor. It's normal to want to hear from someone that "you have things to work on, but you've got it." Don't be afraid to reach out and learn.