New semesters in college can be tough at the beginning. New classes bring new challenges, which brings on more stress. These are just a few ways that I think you should consider looking at these new experiences that you'll have.

1. In order to succeed, it's best that you stay level headed.

This is coming from the queen of anxiousness. I'm being serious though, it really is important to stop and take a breath once and a while. I typically work well under pressure, judging from my past high school experiences in AP classes. But I think that college is another ballgame entirely for there's so much more at stake at this point in our lives. I know how terrifying this whole process can be. For the most part, papers are more intense, expectations are higher, independence is creeping its way into everyone's daily routine, and excuses are locked outside the classroom the moment that the semester starts. I tend to allow anxiety to hit me at the most inconvenient points and often tell myself that my racing mind is just a coping mechanism, letting me know that things won't be as bad as I think they'll be. Now, I'm at a point in my life where my work load may be the most extensive it ever has been. Funnily enough, I don't think that I've ever wanted to remain calm and collected as much as I do at this moment. I don't know how, but so far I've managed to force the crippling anxious thoughts to remain out of my mind. I just hope that things will remain this way for me for the rest of the semester. You all should attempt to think rationally about your work load as well. It can be a real challenge trying to get assignments done when all your brain seems to want to do is run and hide.

2. The rest of your life can't remain defined by a number. You should know what numbers (or letters) I mean.

Yes, I'm referring to those wonderful numbers associated with our grades. From report cards, to assignment grades and GPA's, our lives in school seem to be nothing but a big math equation. People are always going to tell you that your grades are important. They are, don't get me wrong. That doesn't mean that you should let them define your entire life though. No matter what happens during your educational career, the numbers may be there, but they are not what maps out your destiny, you are. Whether you pass with flying colors or if your grade isn't up to par, you must be the one to work things out. Of course, I am an advocate for expressing the importance of hard work. It would be silly of me to believe that everyone is willing to do that though. If you end up facing struggles later on because of your GPA in college, remember that there will always be hidden solutions, as long as you have enough perseverance to look for them.

3. Your academic experience is what you make it.

College isn't for everybody, we all know that. That's okay. Personally, I love to learn and therefore my college experience has been enjoyable for me so far. Some people would rather not go, or see college as a useless way to spend a lot of time and money. It's hard to define exactly what an educational experience is like because it's so different for everybody. Try to make the best out of what you can get out of college if you go. Remember, there are people who don't have the opportunity or the means of getting a higher education that would love to be in your place.

4. There is absolutely nothing wrong with working harder.

I've had so many people tell me that I spend way too much time doing school work. To an extent, I can see their point. I really do spend a lot of time working, both on week days and weekends. What I don't understand is that some people don't see the point for me to work so hard. I often get asked things like, "Don't you know how to relax?" or, "Why would you do homework on weekends?" or, "Why does this matter so much to you?" Just because I continue to work on assignments whenever I possibly can doesn't mean that I'm a robot. I know when to takes breaks, how to relax, and how to get enough sleep at night. If I wasn't assigned the amount of work that I have, maybe there would be more weekends when I didn't have to do work. As someone who appreciates the value of my education, I'll respond to the last question with another: "Why wouldn't this matter so much to me?" Success stories have so little to do with someone's intelligence and so much more to do with one's drive to do better. I accept every assignment that I get with open arms, knowing that it will challenge me in the ways that I need to be challenged. I'm proud to work hard. It all pays off in the end, after all. Just remember my point here, don't let anyone tease you about the time that you spend doing what you are passionate about. Give everything that you can when doing work and I promise you, you will reap the rewards.

5. Take some time to really stop and appreciate what you are learning.

I mentioned earlier that with all of the grades that come along with getting an education, it's hard to view school as nothing more but a big math problem. So many people seem to be more worried about the grades and less about the learning experience itself. Information can go in one ear and out the other, as long as students can find a way to pass with at least a C. My point here is this: forget about grades once and a while and really look at what you are learning. Is it important to your discipline? Even if it doesn't seem valuable to you at all, come up with a way to think of it as something that changed you as a person. I promise, if you think about the subject and not the grades, your learning experience will fell much more fulfilling.