Article: I Should Be Graduating Today

"Today, and within the next few weeks, most of the people I grew up with, went to high school with, and entered college with will all be graduating. However, I am not. All because I changed my major. As I look at everyone's graduation festivities, pictures, and as I congratulate every person I know, it is hard not to feel down about the fact that I should be with them. However, I began to think about my journey these past four years of college and about getting ready for my victory lap next year. I started to see all of the victories I have had from not graduating on time.

My sophomore year of college I decided to change my major from nursing to education. This was a huge decision and I knew that it would result in an extra year in college. But, nursing was not my calling and it did not make me happy. It is a VICTORY that I found my calling my sophomore year of college.

During my time in nursing, all I did was spend my time hunched over textbooks in the library trying to figure out a million different health problems and a million different prescriptions (PSA: I don't think I ever learned them). After changing my major, I was able to have many different experiences. I was the president of The Odyssey Online at my school, I mentored a fifth grader at a local school, and I joined Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honors Society for Educators. It is a VICTORY that I gained time to do other things.

After changing my major to Education, I made some of my best friends through the program. They are all juniors who I will now graduate with. It is a VICTORY that I get to spend more time with them.

So, for all of you fifth-year (or sixth, seventh, eighth, etc.) students who are struggling this graduation season, take a moment and look at all your victories and blessings you are gaining from going extra. Maybe you failed a class, maybe you took a gap year, maybe you changed your major, or maybe it is just taking you a smidge longer. Many students DO NOT graduate in four years, and that's okay. So take your VICTORY lap and conquer the world."

*Feeling as though you aren't "on track" with the rest of the world can be such a tough feeling. We are so ingrained to compare ourselves to others, but everyone is on their own journey. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and we may not ever know why things happen the way they do. This goes for jobs, school, relationships, etc. I know it's hard, but the faster we learn to go with the flow, the faster will keep our inner peace. I want you all to know that everything will be okay and you will achieve all your dreams in time! Keep being persistent and resilient and you will be able to do whatever your heart desires! Have you ever had a setback that you realized was a victory later on down the road?*

#Setback #Resilience #Victory

Please find the full article at The Odyssey Online.

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