Inspiration

Upon entering college, students are likely to hear an array of different things, from the importance of wearing shower shoes to warnings against crazy, messy roommates. They tell us college will be the best four years of our lives, that we’ll make lifelong friends with the girl waiting in line at the omelet bar, or fall madly in love with that cute boy down the hall. They tell us to work hard and succeed so that in four years we can go out into the workforce and complete our transition into adulthood.  We hear so many great things about college all through grade school and junior high, that when we’re finally high school seniors, we can’t wait to graduate and embark on our new journey.

            Upon entering college, however, you learn things, and not just inside the classroom, but outside as well. You learn that even when you try and give it your all, it’s sometimes not enough. You learn to deal with that disappointing heartache and you realize that life doesn’t have to move at lightening speed. You can slow down, take a breath and truly enjoy the experience; instead of flying through it like an exam you spent all night studying for. A degree is not a badge or a metal of honor, it’s not something you display for recognition or praise. It’s something you work hard towards in order to better yourself and your future, so that when it’s finally achieved, you have something to show for all those all-nighters and difficult professors, not to mention those 15 pounds gained freshman year. 

            No matter how glorious it seems, however, the road to that degree is not easy. It comes with difficult decisions and sacrifices, responsibility and hard work. Whether those decisions lead you to graduate a year early or a year late, finishing is what truly matters. So yes, they’ll tell you grand tales and exciting stories, but remember, they’re just that. Because in those stories and tales, they don’t say that sometimes life gets in the way; that your ideal college experience doesn’t always work out the way you want it to. If and when that happens, I want you to remember something. College is what you make it, not what they tell you it’s supposed to be. So receiving a poor grade isn’t the end of the world, having to take a semester or year off to sort things out doesn’t make you a failure. It makes you human; it means you’re actually living. So decide. Choose. Be responsible and work hard, and above else, finish. Please don’t ever not finish.