I think the hardest thing about not graduating on time is watching the graduation you were supposed to be in.

On the day that I type this article, the Class of 2017 walked across the stage to receive their bachelor’s degrees. If I hadn’t made a GPA-crushing decision almost three years ago, I would have walked that stage with my peers, and would have my degree right now. Alas, I do not. I still have a semester left.

Today I’ve spent the entire day in inner turmoil. I’ve been beating myself up over choices I can’t undo. I’ve been scolding myself over not heeding my parents’ warnings about the major that I couldn’t keep afloat in. I’ve been on the edge of tears with a feeling of being left behind, even though I know my time is less than seven months away.

It wasn’t until I sat with my parents and talked about how I was feeling that I realized how harsh I was being with myself. I do not deserve this proverbial beating. I don’t deserve to slash myself apart over choices that literally led me to the major – and future career, for that matter – of my dreams.

I’m not going to lie to those in the same boat as me and say that watching your original intended graduation happen while you’re not there isn’t going to suck. It’s going to suck a lot. I’ve been dreading this moment for a few weeks. But when you look at it, another Odyssey creator was right when they said that graduating college is an achievement no matter when you do it. That’s the truth.

Walking across the stage in December is going to be an achievement in my life, just like it would be if I graduated today. My family will cry, I will cry, and I’ll be ready to jump into a life that I’ve worked my butt off to create for myself. Spending four and a half years of my life working against every college obstacle that they can throw at me is an accomplishment. I’ve raised my cumulative GPA from academic probation to honors. I deserve to feel good about that, regardless of when I walk across the stage.

Graduating college is something that many people dream of but never get to achieve. I’m going to achieve it before this calendar year is up. I’m done beating myself up over a date that wasn’t meant to be. Everyone’s journey to the rest of their lives is different. My journey took a bit longer, but it resulted in me finding exactly where I belonged. For that, I cannot fault it.