I took an electric circuits exam this week. And I studied really hard for it. And I mean, really hard. I went over the notes from class, the examples in the book, the homework and the numerous practice exams the professor posted online. I got a good night’s sleep to ensure I wouldn’t pull a blank during the exam. Everything was going great, and I was calm…until I started working on the exam.

And then, I panicked.

I went through the exam as efficiently as I could but started doubting my methods, my answers - basically everything. I completed my exam with ten minutes to spare and I turned it in because I couldn’t bare to look at those circuit diagrams any longer. I rushed into the bathroom and called my parents - my voice heavy with choked sobs. I was exhausted from the sleepless nights and starving from the meals I skipped to get in some extra studying time. I felt so terrible and so unconfident. Even though I studied diligently, I found the exam to be difficult. I kept blaming myself, blaming my intelligence, doubting my capabilities. I felt so vulnerable and so discouraged. If I couldn’t feel confident about an exam after putting in genuine effort, then was I just stupid?

I went to my professor’s office after the phone call with my parents. I tried to hold back the tears, but couldn’t succeed. He listened to me as I explained between sniffles why I was so upset. I blabbered on and on about how I pulled a blank - about how disappointed and discouraged I was. I half-expected him to look at me condescendingly and tell me that I should’ve worked harder.

He didn’t. He sympathized with me. He told me things happen. It’s one exam. Only one thought went through my head: “But my grade is going to tank and it’s going to affect my GPA.” But then I realized, it is only one exam, one exam that is only worth a fraction of my grade, one exam that is going to push me to do even better on the next one.

My circuits exam was the last of my first set of midterms period which had been going on for about two weeks. For two weeks, I was in constant stress and went through the nights drowning myself in cans of Starbucks' Double Shot Espressos. Between classes, dance practices and studying, I barely had time to eat. Eye bags made a permanent home underneath my teary eyes. And the thing is, I am not the only one who went through this. Every student in my university was slaving away for their midterms. Thousands of students across the country were doing the same. All at the cost of good health.

We all want to succeed. We all want to get that outstanding GPA. We all want to build up our resumes and get that dream job. But what is it all worth if you can’t maintain your mental, physical and emotional health? College does this thing where it breaks down your confidence like no other. Because there are people who are always going to be better than you. There are always going to be people who don’t study as hard as you, yet do better than you. There are always going to be times when you tried your very best and still didn’t get the result you hoped for. And you’re always going to have those weeks where you’re going to feel so low, that you are just going to want to give up.

But you can’t and you won’t. You can’t give up because you have already come so far. You’ve already struggled so much, so why put it all to waste? You won’t give up because you know what you are capable of and you know that you can succeed. You’re intelligent and you know that for a fact because you’re studying in the same school as the people who’s intellectual abilities you admire. You’re a hard worker because you go to your classes, do your work and study. You’re a good person because you help your peers when they struggle with certain topics.

So don’t doubt yourself; don’t tear yourself down. Build yourself up and remember to take care of yourself. It’s important to take a study break and get some sun, instead of being buried under your books in the library cubicle. Treat yourself to a movie or to a nice meal. Go work out and destress. Take care of your mind and body. Because in the end, that’s all you’re going to have. Yourself-- because you’re the only permanent thing in your life. Don’t worry; don’t panic; don’t stress. You’re going to get through that super hard class(es). You’re going to graduate. You’re going to be someone great. But only, only, only, if you take care of yourself.