Life as a graduate student is not always butterflies and rainbows. This past week was one of those times.

1 week, 3 exams, 3 competencies, 1 quiz and you still have to find the time to be a human somewhere in between. Finding the time to study for everything and the time to take care of yourself seems nearly impossible. I began to drown myself in endless worries.

After the week I had, it got me thinking....

School is not life, only a small chapter in our journey. It does not define who we are or who we are going to be.

As students, we base our lives around grades. We begin to revolve everything around achieving this fantasy of perfection, but that's all it is a fantasy.

Grades are a number, a letter, nothing more nothing less. They do not deserve the convoluted definition we have given them. Whether you receive an A, B, C, D or Z it is just a letter it will never define who you are or who you are going to become.

Now I am not disgracing those who achieve a "perfect" score, props to you, many of us wish we could be that person who scores highly on any exam. But to those who feel they aren't enough because of how you scored, do not let the comparison of other's define who you are and the worth of you own successes.

This became crystal clear to me this week. When you have a week jumping from one exam to the next, focusing all your energy into only achieving a certain number and constantly comparing yourself to your peers around you, it makes it damn near impossible to learn, and you begin to lose who you truly are.

After this week I learned what it means to be a "college student". Education is not about the number at the end. School is meant to educate us. It's not about the exams we take, the grades we make, but rather the knowledge and growth we learn while here.

Of course there are times I receive a grade back and am less than disappointed, but you breathe it in and back out. Take it as a learning experience. We cannot learn and grow without making mistakes. How can I expect myself to be an exceptional physical therapist without making mistakes in the classroom, where it is the prime environment for growth. I know I'd much rather make the mistake here and grow from it, than with a patient in the future.

Do not let a mark on sheet of paper define your current, or future success. That test does not showcase the hours of hard work and studying for multiple courses. They do not display the improvement you've made from your last exam. They are not demonstrating how much you make the people around you proud. That test does not define you, your worth or your success.

This is the time of our lives we are meant to enjoy it, not be buried in a textbook for days on end. Tests and grades are a minor part of our college journey and we cannot let them define who we are and control our lives.

Remember, you are you, not the letter or number on your paper. Give everything your best and you will never fail!

Best wishes to all my college students!