I learned about the college triangle last year while hanging out with a group of friends.

We were all talking about what we thought college and technical schools would be like next year. Someone mentioned the "triangle of college" and showed us a picture of the diagram. There are three points to the triangle all with a word attached to the point: “good grades,” “social life,” and “sleep,”

Although all of the points are needed for a healthy and happy life, the triangle directs a person to pick two and leave the other behind. When I first saw the picture, I disagreed with it entirely. I had all three throughout high school. I thought that although college was harder, there were more breaks spread out between classes. I could hang out with my friends during lunch and dinner, work on homework and clubs at night, and go to sleep at a semi-reasonable hour. I should have been able to do all three without a problem. I'd be an exception to the bogus college triangle.

It's laughable how wrong I was.

After the ice broke off and professors were sure that we’d be able to navigate through their piles of homework, I realized that I’d have to sacrifice a part of my triangle. The workload of college wasn't harder, besides the math and science, but when isn't that hard? It's a lot more populous. There's no busy work. Every reading is discussed during class and almost every homework is collected. It seemed more and more apparent that I wasn't able to keep up with my cluttered life. There simply wasn't enough hours in the day. Something had to give.

But what?

I came to school to get a degree. I'm a first-generation college student. How can I not be driven as hell with the chance that I've been given? School will always come before everything. Getting involved and really making a name for myself is something that I wouldn't give up for anything. Period.

The choice between sleep and friendship was much harder. At first, I gave up friendship for a night's sleep. Yet, it wasn't an easy rest. The sounds of my own heartbeat would keep me up at night. The pressure of tomorrow would haunt me in circulating thoughts. But I had extra pressure that kept me alert. My friends were having fun without me. I was missing out on the college memories that I was promised since I received my acceptance letter.

Sleep seemed so unimportant. I decided that I would delay sleep until I had all my work done. If my friends had plans, I'd accept within reason. I can't say yes to every opportunity to hang out. Then I would type until midnight, take cold showers when I grew weary, and then toss and turn until sleep came to me. I’d take naps until noon, unless I had a test, and continue through my day.

It hasn’t been easy, but anything that is worth doing isn’t going to be. Tired just isn't a priority to me. It’s a personality trait. I feel it set deep into my bones, and I can hear it in the dullness of my voice. Some days I long for the weekend where I sleep for 12 to 13 hours on end. But, in my heart, I know that when I get my degree, attend grad school, and be boosted with lifetime memories of friends and school activities, I know I will choose right. It’ll be worth it in the end.