Here I am prepping for my senior year, again. I see all of my friends around me who are celebrating with their graduation parties for all of their hard work and successes they have accomplished throughout their college careers. I feel happiness for all of my friends. However, while attending those celebrations I always dread that one question someone will ask:

“Did you graduate?”

To some this may not seem like such a big deal, but to me it is.

It makes me think that others are judging me for not walking on time. Millions of thoughts and worries rush to my head. Do they think I’m dumb? Maybe they think that I don’t care enough? All of these insecure thoughts weigh heavy on me, because I care about my education. I’ve always been told I was smart, and that I would be successful in the future. So why not now? Why couldn’t I graduate?

I’ve worked hard over the past 4 years in college. Never have I once failed a class and my grades are relatively good for playing a college sport on top of holding a job. So why couldn’t I walk with my class? Here I see posts of my friends starting their careers and going out into this world. And I’m stuck behind a desk still. I feel like a failure.

But I’m not.

I know the reasons why I am where I am today. And it’s not for any of those reasons. I’m here because I had a passion for a teaching career and that’s all I ever wanted to do. And when I was placed in a classroom setting where the Common Core was implemented, I was not happy. And that’s OK. I want to enjoy my job when I graduate and start my career. If you wake up and enjoy going to work everyday, is it really work?

I currently am enrolled at a great school with a new major. Here I’ve made great friends and met many people who have made a huge impact on my life.

I have come to accept the fact that, yes, I did not graduate on time. And that’s OK.

Education is important and it’s no less of an accomplishment if you complete it in 4 years or 10 years.