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The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at SBU chapter.

I can’t wait for this semester to be over. (Academically, may I clarify.) The current semester has been my most challenging in college thus far. By how much I complain about my workload to my friends, you’d think I was studying rocket science. Nope- just communications! 

The primary culprit for my stress has been Biology 101, which I am fulfilling as a required science credit. I took a biology course in high school and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I figured this class would be no different. I was wrong. As soon as I met my college professor for biology, I knew I’d like him. He was an excellent professor who was kind, understanding, and knowledgeable about the subject at hand. Nonetheless, a good professor couldn’t negate that the material simply did not click in my mind. It was nothing like high school.

Biology 101 was my biggest shock at college so far. Never before had I been in a class that sped through content at such a rapid pace. I found that in each lecture, we were covering an average of 50-60 slides in a slideshow. As someone who prefers to take notes by hand, this became almost impossible to keep up with. I find myself struggling simply to copy the words on the screen, let alone process or understand them. 

In addition to the 90-minute lectures twice a week, I spend an hour each Tuesday at Supplemental Instruction and try to attend my professor’s office hours when they fit into my schedule. This doesn’t even include my personal studying for the subject outside of the class. The bottom line is: this has by far been the most time-consuming subject I have taken in all of my academic career. 

What was most disheartening to me at first was that despite the hours I dedicated to the subject, I was pulling very average scores on the exams. As a communications student, my bread and butter is papers and projects. This was one of the first classes in college where exams held so much weight, and subsequent pressure. 

My parents and friends (and even professors) encouraged me to stress less about the class, as it was out of my major. I wasn’t studying to be a biologist. Nonetheless, my bad habit of putting pressure on myself skyrocketed while taking biology. I felt I somehow had to prove to everyone that even as a student who wasn’t in STEM, I was just as smart and competent as a biology or chemistry major. 

On top of biology, my other courses naturally became more challenging sophomore year. Exams, reports, and essays became a daily occurrence rather than weekly. I began working more at my on-campus job. My social circle shifted, and I missed my hometown friends and family. I felt like I was growing up too fast, and suddenly I just wanted to be a kid again. 

I wish I could say I found a magic equation or solution to help alleviate the pressures of this semester. The future certainly does look more promising, as I begin small steps toward self-love rather than self-pressure. Each day I remind myself that my worth is not tied to a grade, especially in a course that has nothing to do with my field of study. I will be done with Bio 101 in approximately 5 weeks. Though I am counting down the days, I am also immensely proud of myself. Whether it’s Bio 101, a tough boss, or a relationship conflict, life presents challenges. I have found that how we talk to ourselves through these hardships ultimately can reframe the entire situation, and often provide a glimmer of hope. 

Katie is a Junior at St. Bonaventure University. She is an executive board member for Her Campus at SBU. Her experience with social media, advertising, and writing allow her to combine her passions and advance her university's chapter of HC. She has been a part of Her Campus since freshman year. It has been her favorite on-campus extracurricular to become involved with. Katie is currently studying Strategic Communication and Marketing. She finds joy in being involved on campus through various organizations including Her Campus and Jandoli Women in Communication. Katie is both an Orientation Leader and a Peer Coach- she loves welcoming new students and helping them transition to college. She is also a full-time student ambassador who enthusiastically leads tours for prospective students. (Request her as your tour guide!) In her free time, you can find Katie reading, hiking, and laughing with her friends. She loves spending time outdoors, especially in the fall. Her kryptonite is iced coffee. Some of her favorite artists include Chris Stapleton, Fleetwood Mac, and Noah Kahan. Her favorite show is New Girl. Katie will eagerly engage in any conversation about her beloved hometown, Buffalo, New York. She will likely attempt to convert you to become a Buffalo Bills fan, and could talk about Josh Allen for hours. Post-grad, Katie hopes to be using her creative talents towards a fulfilling career in the world of advertising.