“I need to take 18 credits or else I won’t finish on time!” cried my friend over the phone in an exasperated voice. I could hear the anxious clicking of her fingers pressing the keyboard. I knew that on her screen would be the archaic program, despised by most students: PUTTY. “Matrícula” (what we call the class enrollment period) seemed to bring out everyone’s short temperedness as they struggled to get the classes they needed. My friend and I are both in our second year, and are still pretty new to the college game in general.
“Why do you have to finish college in 4 years?” I asked, trying to comprehend her internal dilemma.
She couldn’t give me a straight answer or at least one that came from her, and by this, I mean that her responses ranged from “That’s how long it’s supposed to take” or “Everyone says we should finish in 4 years.” Her reasoning didn’t come from her personal wishes, but from outside pressures, such as the opinions of family and friends or society’s academic standards. Furthermore, it was even hard for her to consider taking less than 15 credits. I had suggested the idea due to her having an extremely rough year, and since the possibility of having another heavy semester could deteriorate her mental health even further.
“There’s nothing wrong with taking it a bit slow this semester,” I reassured her.
Although she was genuinely considering it, and actually wanted to do it, she was still hesitant. All she could think about was how all her other friends were taking around 18 credits and following the recommended curriculum combination of classes the university supplies us in our first year.
This entire conversation got me thinking: do students actually believe that they have to finish their bachelor’s in 4 years and take as many credits as they can each semester to be viewed as intelligent, responsible, and exceptional students?
Well, in my humble and honest opinion… I think that’s a load of BS. The reason being that, number one, we are all different; we think and work differently. No two students are the same, and the challenges they face within their studies are completely distinct… even if they’re in the same bachelor’s degree. This is due to many reasons. Students in the same department might be taking the same classes, but with different professors (if you’re a student, you know how having a bad professor can make your semester a living hell) and in different circumstances (we’ve learned how the latest world crises can affect our education). Plus, our personal lives or mental health can fall apart at any time and it probably won’t be at the same moment as your other peers.
This might be a cliché, and we’ve heard the phrase many times before, but you need to always put yourself first. You can roll your eyes all you want, but how many of us actually apply this to our lives? Don’t listen to anyone or compare yourself to others when it comes to how you do your studies. Some people might prefer a tight schedule, and that’s completely fine, but it’s also okay to accept that you get along better with a more flexible schedule. Because what’s the point of making yourself take on a massive workload when you know that it’s not for you? Your performance and health will be negatively affected, and for what? To impress people who don’t actually even care or contribute to your education at all?
For example, when I entered my first year, I was recovering from depression and anxiety. I was doing well, but still had a long way to go. Therefore, you best believe I would not risk my recovery just so I can feel like I’m fitting in and doing what was expected of me. While my peers were taking 15 to 18 credits (and that’s great for them), yours truly was attending 4 classes (12 credits), and I was able to calmly adapt to my new environment. It was my first time living alone far away from home, so there was a lot going on for me, and I was okay with that. After getting the hang of things, I took 15 credits the following semester, and I believe that’s the best schedule for me at the pace I work at; I’m doing great and I feel happy. I actually get to fully enjoy my classes and the major I chose. It’s still difficult, but it’s completely me because I’m calling the shots about what happens in my life and academic pursuits. So please, my dear student body, screw expectations and follow your dreams your own way. However, it’s important for me to clarify that this is not the same as limiting yourself. No, at the end of the day, we are all studying to get to the same goal: graduation and a diploma. In my case, I’m just enjoying the journey a little longer than others. I embrace it, and I accept who I am and how I function.
Now that we’ve discussed the matter, the next thing to do is to put it into practice. A good way to gain perspective is to question ourselves about the issue. A few good questions to meditate on when you feel these academic pressures settling in are the following:
“Who is the one attending classes, doing the work, and eventually using the diploma for a future job?”
Me, the person studying it. I’m the one earning MY diploma.
“What will my friends/peers think?”
Are they paying for your degree? Are they taking YOUR classes and doing YOUR work? Hmm… I’d think their opinion is rather irrelevant then.
“Will people think I’m not intelligent or responsible?”
Screw what people think because you’re the one putting in the work for your degree, not them. Plus, people talk sh*t anyway, regardless of what you do, so please don’t give them a second thought.
You are the boss when it comes to your life and how everything in it gets done. Your mental health and the potential that can blossom within you by getting stuff done at your pace are not worth risking for the “approval” of others.
Students, DO COLLEGE YOUR WAY!