You're doing great. You're doing your best, and you should be proud of that. Between classes, extracurriculars, and work you're bound to feel strung out, and that's OK. Remember why you're doing it all.
A few years ago college was the goal, and you made it happen. Now, a career is the goal, and you're going to make that happen, too. When you struggle to get out of bed for the final days of class, remember that everyone does. Whether you've already faced finals and are feeling discouraged about your grades, or you're dreading the all-nighters as finals approach, know that it's all worth it. It will be worth the two hours of sleep the night before a big test to find a job that you will thoroughly enjoy. It will be worth the hours spent in the library with your nose stuck in the textbooks to wake up every morning, knowing you get to do what you love. It will be worth the endless stress and worry to pursue a career that you're passionate about.
Of course, your education doesn't come cheap. You're the typical broke college kid, and work can be aggravating. As if the pressure of building your entire future over four years wasn't enough, you also have to live off of nickels and dimes. Sometimes, you want to call in sick. Sometimes you wonder if you could quit and just live off of campus food until graduation. Rent is expensive. Gas is expensive. You're tired, and the last thing you want to do is stay at work until midnight dealing with rude customers, knowing that dreadful alarm ringtone will be going off at 7 a.m. Remember that it will be worth it. It will be worth the long hours to earn enough money for rent. It will be worth the measly tips to have a savings account you're slowly becoming proud of. It will be worth putting in the extra effort to have a great reference letter sent to your next boss.
When this period of your life is over, you will be able to look back and admire yourself for it. The struggles you are facing right now are helping in ways you can't even see yet, but you will soon enough. So struggle, be sleep deprived, but enjoy it. Look forward to the life you're building for yourself. Experiencing these difficulties now will only make you appreciate the luxuries even more later on. It will be worth it to say that you never gave up. It will be worth it to be able to say, "I made it."
