You hear it time and time again. It's always "grades don't define who you are" or "one bad test won't completely destroy your academic semester." And while you know the truth behind those words, it is often very hard to accept what they mean when faced with the work in the moment.

The pressure is everywhere in college, and students are constantly expected to be at their peak or above their own peers. This means worrying each step of the way about how you did on that last test or whether this next paper will meet the class standards.

Expectations have followed students like this all their lives. It's the reason they got into the college of their dreams in the first place.

But unfortunately the pressure doesn't stop when you get to college. In fact, it gets even worse in a lot of ways, as you must excel in order to land the job or internship you will pursue for the rest of your life.

I've always been an overly-anxious person, constantly thinking about what I have to do next just to get that A in a class. The mentality of being the best or above average has been a way of life for me and many others. It taught me how to be dedicated and persevere, but it has also created unwanted stress in my life.

When I started college last year, I quickly realized that I wasn't the only one going through the same struggle. Many of my friends always tell me "your grade won't define you" as they cram an all-nighter just to get above a C on their bio exam. Nowadays, people seem to have forgotten that line more and more (it's finals week, so grades are all we're thinking about).

At times you seem like you can handle it, and other times it feels like the world is crashing down on you. Grades suddenly become the only thing that matters, and you neglect aspects of your life that should be placed above your academics. I can't remember the last time I was able to have simply one "relaxing" day without my brain going into overdrive for my next assignment.

It is true. Grades from a class you only take for a few months doesn't determine who you are, how you treat people or what the rest of your life will look like. But in the moment it can seem like it's the only thing that matters.

So hearing those words at times like this can serve only as an annoyance. Deep down we know that our grades are only letters on a paper, but sometimes it doesn't feel like it. Sometimes the only justification is knowing you completed the work at the best of your abilities. It's part of learning to cope with college.

With finals around the corner (or currently going on for some), work hard for that grade. It will pay off in the end, and you'll know at the end of the day that you tried. It won't define you, but it will only steer you in the right direction.