We’ve all been there, having a terrible start to a new semester that feels like nothing worse could happen to you. This brings you to so many questions about whether you’re doing the right thing or if it’s even worth continuing with school in general. Honestly, this week was that week for me, and I’m sure everyone has had those weeks as well.

For me, the week started off pretty well; my first class was awesome and the teacher was great. Then, after class I looked over the supply list for that class alone and I got extremely overwhelmed. I came full circle to a decision I had visited many times in the past year, if I should drop my minor that I had worked so hard for. It wasn’t just the cost of the supplies for the class, it was so much more than that, but it set it all off.

After that, the week took a turn for the worst. Since I ultimately decided to drop my minor, that changed my class schedule because I was enrolled in two classes that counted towards my minor. After that, it just started to get more overwhelming. Books, assignments, and syllabus’. It all happened so quickly. By the end of the week, I was exhausted. All I wanted to do was get all my stuff together and work it all out but I had no time over the week to do so.

Finally, it started getting better. Before I left school on Friday, I got an email with my Dean’s List certificate from last semester. That’s when I realized why I choose to continue going to school no matter how many times I get overwhelmed like this. Somehow, even when it seems impossible, I manage to work through the problems and finish strong. (Sometimes, finishing strong doesn’t mean you passed the class with above a C, but in the end if you did all you could, it was a strong effort.) Obviously, this means a lot of hard work gets put into it, but I chose to go to college to challenge myself, and that’s exactly what I’m doing with every new obstacle I overcome.

Even through all of the rough times college students encounter through the years, there seems to be something good that comes from it and ultimately we will be better people for all of the challenges we’ve faced. So, what I’m saying is that I know it gets hard and you have a lot to deal with during your time at school. But, just know that you’re not alone in this. So many people have gone through the same problems you’re facing right now, and many of them look back and see how much stronger they are for facing these challenges when they did.

No matter how hard it gets, know that you’re doing this for you and for your future. It’s not all about the grades you get, but you should work hard to do your best in your classes. Most importantly, sometimes you’ll fail to overcome these obstacles, and that’s okay, too. No one is perfect. Doing your best is always important though, so you can show people what you’re made of and what you can accomplish by powering through tough situations.