One thing about university is that it’s never a straight path, and it never will be.
When I first came to university, I expected things to be just as they were in high school—easy and straightforward—but I couldn’t have been more wrong. University proved to be challenging and
frustrating at times, but I’ve quickly learned it’s okay for things to be difficult because that’s how we grow.
During my first year, I overworked myself to the point of nearly failing my English 100 course. This was a huge shock, especially coming straight out of high school where I had high grades. The academic setback was something I wasn’t prepared to handle.
Honestly, I don’t think anyone coming to university is ever truly ready to face setbacks. Yet, no success comes without them. These setbacks can come in many forms—low grades, failed exams, or unmet expectations—and they can arise for various reasons, such as stress, schedule overload (with school, work, and extracurricular activities), inefficient time-management personal and family life, or other issues that often go unnoticed by the casual observer.
Academic setbacks are a common side effect of being a student, and it’s rare for anyone to go through university without experiencing at least one. Don’t be ashamed or afraid of them, they’re not the end of the world but often the key to many opportunities.
Every single person walking on this campus comes from a different walk of life and has
different ways of managing academic setbacks and the stress that comes along with it, but what I’ve found effective, and I hope, you as a reader will too, is to first be kind to yourself.
When I first received a failing grade on my essay, I was hard on myself, questioning how I had let things get to that point. I didn’t acknowledge I was doing my best given the circumstances of my life at the time.
Practicing self-comion can be a saving grace, but it can be difficult when you’re holding yourself to a higher standard. Imagine your friend going through the same situation—you would tell them things will eventually be okay and help them move past it. , you’re your own best friend, so treat yourself like one.
While being kind to yourself is important, it’s also crucial to surround yourself with people who can
understand and sympathize with the situation and will offer to help you get back on your feet, showing you the kindness you’re often unable to give yourself. The community and friends you choose to have around you will be the ones there for you when you inevitably stumble through
life and fall now and then, so choose wisely.
Academic setbacks often teach us to be resilient and adapt to changing circumstances, but it’s
crucial to know these setbacks don’t make you a failure—they’re stepping stones towards growth.
If there’s one thing, I want to leave you with, it’s that your university journey will have its ups and downs. Some years will be highlights and the best times of your life, while others may bring multiple setbacks.
With everything that comes with life, allow yourself to make mistakes, be wrong, and make decisions without knowing whether they will turn out to be good or bad. Learn from these mistakes and use them as opportunities to grow. While life throws all kinds of experiences at you, learn to embrace them and open your heart to them because that’s how you grow and rise above the challenges.
, you’re the captain of your ship and the future you get depends on the choices you make.
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