College.
College is not an easy feat. It's probably the most challenging time in regard to our entire life of academia. From K-12, school was something that generally came easy for many of us. School was a place where we didn't really need to study to pass. College? Welcome to a whole new ballpark.
We've all heard each other say how "smart" we were in high school. Most of us were in some sort of academic club, took honors and AP classes, tutored, etc. We all know that we were once Top 10 in our graduating class, or were inducted into the National Honor Society for having an exceptional 4.0 GPA, blah, blah, blah. We had all the criteria we needed to get into college: great SAT scores, extracurriculars, excellent recommendations, the whole nine yards. But the one thing that some of us failed to remember was simply what it was like to fall. Hard.
From kindergarten through senior year, school was something that I was just naturally good at. I never really struggled with any subject or concept. I only needed to study maybe one or two hours the night before an exam. Homework assignments would be done in less than an hour. "All-nighters" was a term that I never understood (but a term I am very much acquainted with now) and it puzzled me to see my fellow peers get bad test grades or failed assignments. I was smart in high school...but simply being smart does not help you in college.
I'll be honest. College nearly broke me, in every way. As a high school senior, there were so many expectations and pressures placed on me. My family had expectations, but the expectation I placed on myself was far worse. I came to college thinking that I would make straight A's, get into Pharmacy school after 2 years of undergrad, and graduate in 6 years.
And boy was I wrong. Countless nights of studying and struggle, several C's on my transcript, breakdowns and cries, I can safely say that I'll be finishing a 4-year Bachelor's degree in Clinical Research. Pharmacy school will (fingers crossed) follow through afterwards.
College is, as cliche as it sounds, life-changing. College humbles you because you begin to see your strengths and weaknesses, not only academically, but in all aspects. College makes you see who you are, and where you are at this point in life; but it also makes you grow, and thrive. College also brings you toward people that you never thought you would be friends with in a million years. College brought me an amazing group of girls that I can call my sisters. College brought me a Christian organization where I can be open about my faith, and my struggles of keeping my faith. College gave me the opportunity to get out of my own independent bubble and realize that there is so much more to see that I close myself off to. Regardless of where you are, or what college you go to, just remember that there are thousands of students across the nation who are trying to find their place and where there passions lie. Don't let life's struggles inhibit you from your path, but let those hardships guide you to happiness.
