College is scary from a distance, but once you get there you begin to live an independent lifestyle. At the start of college, I made myself many goals, but my primary goal was to conquer my education and success. Here are three things I have recently discovered:

1. Why am I working so hard?

After a good six hours of homework and studying, this is the question I find myself asking. However, as an individual who is devoted with a strong work ethic, working hard is part of who I am and a key that will eventually lead me to success. I tend to put myself down with every grade I receive below my ideal, or often feel as if I am not good enough for the college setting. However, I recently discovered that a grade point average or comparing myself to every breathing person who comes into my path, is not the way to go. So a piece of advice to my fellow classmates is, as long as you are working hard and trying to better yourself each day, you have already succeeded.

2. Be careful about how much you take on.

At the involvement fair at the beginning of the year you can always pick out the frantic freshman. The freshman, including myself, were running from table to table signing up for everything and anything. This was only because that is what every person told you before you entered college, “Get involved; it looks really good!” This of course is true, but there has to be a balance. I eventually cut it down to about four clubs. Along with that, there comes classes and an on-campus job. Oh, and of course a social life. College, thus far, has become quite the journey, and as long as you get involved just enough you have mastered your first year.

3. Be yourself.

College is supposed to be the four most defining years of your life, so make it worth it. As an individual with strong morals, I don’t change for anyone. So when you get to college remember to be yourself, and create a story that will continue on and prepare you for anything life throws.