As the year is coming to an end, students frantically check their grades, calculate what they need to get on their finals to secure that "ideal GPA" and probably ask their instructors for some sort of extra credit opportunity.

You know what I say to that? Don't waste your precious time.

Sometimes I fall into that pit of despair where academia controls my life and that pit begins to fill with water and treading is an insurmountable task. When I take a deep breath, though—usually a quick call to my parents—I make the decision to drop the weight of school, let it sink to the bottom and swim with the rising water all the way to the top of the pit. Then I crawl out, a little bit wet, but a whole lot lighter. And safer.

For example, last weekend, I sat on my couch in the dark running through my mental check list of all the assignments I had not done that were due in less than 24 hours. What do all young adults do when they start to realize how helpless and childlike they really are at heart? They call their mothers. So I did, like any self-respecting adult would do.

I began to complain about my schedule the past two weeks, how I was never home and how I had fallen behind in class because I was spending my energy on philanthropic commitments. She asked me why I was in college. I thought about my majors in sociology and creative writing, and how I want to use them to work for nonprofits and other volunteer-oriented organizations. Ironically, those are the things I had been working on instead of my school work.

Growing up a middle class perfectionist, school was just something "everybody" did and college "always" followed. I never really thought about not going to college until this week, talking on the phone with my mom. If it were the best decision for myself, I would drop school now to pursue a lifestyle of volunteering and picking up odds and ends jobs along the way. But for myself, I know school is where I need to and shall stay.

That feeling aside, I realized that I did not come to college with the sole purpose to study and maintain a 4.0 grade point average. I came to pursue my dream. I want to volunteer for the rest of my life, so why not start now?

This may not be incredibly relatable. In fact, I find that this is not a common state of mind. But for those of you drowning in that pit of homework, tests, projects and deadlines, ask yourself—or call your parents so they can ask you—"Why are you in school?"

If your answer is "to get good grades," then keep doing exactly what you are doing, because it sounds like something you are very passionate about. But if your answer is "to get a job," I caution you to drop some of the weight of academic stress you are under so you can tread a little lighter. I am only a freshman, so correct me if I am wrong (I welcome any and all feedback), but from what I have been told and can only assume, your future dream employer will probably not pull out your report card or transcript, point to your freshman year biology class or senior year composition class and ask, "Why is this not a 4.0? You have a C+ here. Did you even try in school?" Again, this is just a hunch.

Believe it or not, a C+ is not the end of the world. An F is not either. If you live your life with the intention of fulfilling whatever dream lies within you, then that is the greatest success of all. (Cue the cheesy "aw" from the crowd).

Seriously, I will say it again using different words: grades do not make or break you or the values you posses. If you live each day to its ultimate good, you will not only survive but you will thrive.

My mom ended our conversation reminding me that we all have those days where we may have to work a lot harder than we want to or sleep a little less than we ought to. Unfortunately, this is true. We are not immune to stress, and life is not supposed to be a breeze. It requires dedicated, dirty, hard work. But there is a balance involved that asks you to check your state of being and evaluate when too much work is just too much. Earlier I mentioned that when you drop that weight and swim to the top, you will be safer. And I mean that. I pray that you never have to sacrifice your mental and physical health in order to "get the grade."

As you prepare for your finals and calculate the grades you need in order to be "successful," calculate just how much of your well-being you are willing to throw aside to get there.

I pinky promise that you are worth so much more than you think you are. Therefore, take care of yourself and your dreams. And swim.