Throughout my life, I was always a go-getter and a very motivated person. When I have something that I desperately need/want to do, I get it done as soon as possible. With my mother being a perfectionist, I have come to the realization that I am tough on myself and I will continue to be for the rest of my life.

Now does that mean that I tell myself I'm not good enough every day?

No.

Do I continuously cry and whine about every single assignment?

No.

Do I look at my midterm or final grades in school and say, "How did that happen?!"

Of course not.

I know that I am good enough to make it through school.

I looked at the syllabi for all of my classes and I know I have assignments coming up.

I know exactly why I have a 3.27 GPA and I take full responsibility for it.

However, college is not the easiest thing in the world. It becomes more and more difficult every single day. But instead of crying about how hard it is, I look at it as a challenge and a new adventure.

But honestly: Why would someone want to get five hours of sleep each night and live off coffee 24/7? Why would someone want to write a paper every two to three weeks? Why would someone want to find the limit of a function? Why on Earth would someone want to basically go insane for a minimum of four years of their life?

Because.

They want that education. They want to succeed and have a job that they are certified in. They have a passion for a specific task and they are more than willing and able to help others.

So now I ask you: Why are you crying about every, single, assignment, when you know they're coming up?

Is it because you just naturally want to express your stress to others? Is it because your teachers in high school did everything for you? Is it because you didn't have to be an adult and you got to choose how to live your life?

If you haven't realized it already, college is tough. It's not going to get easier and that gives you two options. You can either suck it up and push through it. Or you can cry about it and then leave because it's too hard.

If you think that you don't want to put forth the effort of studying and you don't want to go to class each day, then don't. It's OK if college is not for you, I get it. However, the thing that drives me insane is when people say that they're going to college when in reality they're literally just going to college. They're there because they want to hang out and party with their friends, and they don't focus on their education. They have a dorm to live in, a food court to eat at and on-campus activities that keep them busy. They don't realize that they're supposed to be learning and earning a degree. They end up failing a few classes and possibly moving back home to go into the workforce.

My message to all of you college students is this:

If you think or know that you are not willing to put 150 percent of effort into your education (and possible career), then don't waste your money. College is expensive and there's no reason to waste your money on things that you will never use.

But if you do study every night, and go to class each day, then keep it up. You're doing great and in a few short years, you will have that dream job. Now it may take quite a few all-nighters, a ton of coffee, and roughly a million notecards, but it will all be worth it. You can do it.

College is going to be the best and worst time of your life. You've got to make the best of it though. Keep up the studying and you will make it.