I Was On Academic Probation, And I'm Not Ashamed | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

I Was On Academic Probation, And I'm Not Ashamed

I refuse to be embarrassed.

772
I Was On Academic Probation, And I'm Not Ashamed
Kelly Carpenter

No college student begins their first semester with the hopes of doing so poorly that they are subject to dismissal. We begin our college careers with high hopes and dreams, partly believing that it will come naturally to us just like high school did. People warn us that college is difficult, but do we heed this warning?

Nope.


Most of us will be okay. Most of us may come out of our first semester with a C or two, but still be on track to achieving an above average GPA. Then there are people like me, who were so caught up in the new college experience that they did not put enough effort into their studies. I came out of my first semester with a 1.7 GPA. Impressive, right? This landed me right on Academic Probation. At first, I was humiliated. I was also terrified to tell my parents. Eventually, I came to accept what was and embrace the journey rather than try to hide it.

All schools are different with their requirements, but mine required that I attend weekly meetings with a peer-counselor, monthly meetings with an advisor, and to make frequent trips to my professors' office hours. This may seem like a lot, and it definitely is, but it was in my best interest. I am not ashamed that I was on academic probation. I am not embarrassed. I do not regret anything. I was not shy when my friends would ask me where I was going, or why I had to do all of these things. Being honest is the best way to go.

It is natural for humans to fail. No person is great at everything they do, especially not at their first attempt. I view my first semester as a first attempt at college. Did this have lasting effects? Definitely. I had to put in extra effort every semester after in order to raise my GPA. However, I will not be hard on myself because I was not successful at first. School can be difficult, whether it's high school, college, graduate programs, etc. This was a learning experience that I am grateful for. It has made me more mindful of my practices when it comes to education, but it has not caused me to view myself as a failure. I am human, and humans are not perfect.

Do I wish that I had started off on a better foot? Yes, of course. However, the following semester I was able to get my act together and be just shy of a 4.0. All of the annoying things I had to do that semester (on top of trying to get better grades) made me realize what I was doing wrong. I was not focusing on school work, I was focusing on establishing a social life. I was focused on making friends and acting "too cool to study." Why is that even a thing?? Since middle school, it seemed so outrageous to be interested in doing school work. Luckily for me, I surrounded myself with friends who were within the same major(s) and were way more dedicated to studying than I was.

From this experience, I learned how to prioritize. How to embrace my studies. How to make my college years fun, yet functional. College is one of the most difficult experiences a person can have, in my opinion. For those of you who landed yourself on probation like I did, just know there are countless people supporting you. Tell yourself that the only way to go is up. Put your social life on hold for one semester, it won't kill you and it won't make you a loser. Don't be bothered by the ridiculous amount of stuff you have to do in order to get off of probation. Take it as a new experience, and actually try to learn from it. Trust me, it will only help you in the end.


If you have found yourself on the wrong side of the academic standings, do not let it consume you. Do not view yourself in a negative light because of one misstep. Life is hard, college is hard, trying to keep up with the million things that young adults have to do is hard. You will make it through, and you will become successful. I made it through and so will you.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
legally blonde

College is filled with many things, and we're so often lectured to make the right decisions as we head out on our own into the college life. But sometimes it's necessary to indulge in some guilty pleasures as well as just doing things because you can. And honestly, a lot of the time it's inevitable. College is no piece of cake that's for sure, so it's okay to do some things you deep down know you shouldn't....once in a while anyways.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

10 Things to avoid your freshman year of college

Having this list as you enter college will be extremely valuable and beneficial to experiencing the best year of your life!

1550
girl friends
Madison Morgan

Ahhh good ol' freshman year. The best times and the worst times. Going to college six hours from home was the best decision I had ever made for myself, but the transition would have been much smoother had I known the things I know now. You cannot take on this beast by yourself, so allow me to lend a hand and guide you through one of the most exciting and different years of your life thus far. I have compiled a list of 10 key things to avoid your freshman year of college in order to ensure a smooth, happy, and fun first year!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

13 Thoughts Everyone Has During Lecture

Chances are, they have nothing to do with what you're actually supposed to be learning.

117
student in class
Polish Magazine

Let's face it. We've all had those days when it's almost impossible to stay awake or focus during lecture. We often find ourselves dozing off or just staring out into space when we really should be paying attention to what's going on in class. Regardless of whether or not you admit this happens, here are 13 thoughts every student has during lecture:

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

A Deep Dive Into Taylor Swift’s Albums: 1989 (Taylor’s Version) Edition

I just know that the idea of releasing vault tracks came out of the moment Taylor remembered she wrote 'Is It Over Now?'

216
A Deep Dive Into Taylor Swift’s Albums: 1989 (Taylor’s Version) Edition
Edited by Hailey Hastings

I am fully emersed into diving deep into every single Taylor Swift album, which I do on my own all the time, but wanted to do it in a way where I am sharing what a special discography she has. I feel like 1989 is the perfect place to start, it's an era that changed everything, and will always be an album people automatically think of when you say "Taylor Swift."

Keep Reading...Show less
friends

Here you will find a list of many of the people you will come across in your life, and if you're lucky, you'll be able to give a name to all these characters that you hopefully see day to day. Don't take these friends for granted because they all add a little something to your life, and if you can't name all of them to your personal friends, chances are it might be you...

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments