I've only just completed my first year of college, but I know that this is not easy.

I'm not saying high school is easy; I'm just saying that it's a whole different ball field. School is a game, and a game that we are fortunate to play, but it requires an understanding of the game, skill, and technique. I used to be good at this game, but I've found that I'm not good at college. I'm not a bad student. I'm average. I made A's, B's and C's thus far with a lot of stress and time going into it. I didn't fly by in high school, but I didn't have to stress as much. I understood that game a bit more, I guess.

In high school, I was in AP classes, Honors classes, the whole 9 yards. I had to work at it, do my homework, but it came easily to me. School does not measure intelligence. I've come to learn that. It measures technique and skill. You learn the game, you figure out what works best for you, you play. In high school, you do get a bit more hand-holding though.

In college, you're on your own.

You pay (or get help paying) for education that is priced as a luxury and viewed as a necessity. And you do it alone. Your professors don't always care about your excuses. They won't help you unless you go to them even if you're failing. But, if you fail a class, you are not the only one. And it is okay. As I've written before, it's more important to take care of your mental health. Do what you can. That's all you can do.

You have to relearn the game that you've spent years practicing.

I won't lie to you; it's difficult. You will have to work hard, and you will have to focus. You have a lot of decisions to make as you transition to college from high school. You have to find a place to live, how to eat, how to get money, how to go to school, when to do homework, and how to stay sane. Typically, these aren't worries for high school students, but I don't dismiss that there are those students in high school. But, for those who are fortunate like me, this is a different game entirely. A balancing act. A marathon. And that's another reason that it's okay to not be great at college, regardless of if you were great at high school.

I used to be good at this.

Now I'm not. And that's okay. I am trying and am getting through it. My family and friends always told me that I'm smart because of my grades, but my grades are not the same. It might take me a while to finish school, but there will be others who have been in the same position. You're not alone. I know I said that you're alone earlier, but I mean that you have to reach out for help instead of it coming to you. Don't be afraid to reach out. College is not everyone's strength, so ask for help.