When I first went back to school, I thought I’d crush it. Straight A’s. 4.0 GPA. Maybe even get a little “wow she’s so put together” award. I really believed I could just Google my way through everything.
Spoiler alert: You cannot.
Turns out, college professors actually expect you to learn things. The nerve.
Somewhere between crying over assignments and being personally attacked by Canvas notifications, I realized I had it all wrong. I thought success meant perfection. But now?
Success looks like turning things in on time.
It looks like studying not to memorize—but to understand. Like actually understanding the entire test and thinking, “Wait… I’m not dumb?? I just needed to learn how these dang things are set up.” (Character development.)
“School Isn’t for Everyone” and Other Thoughts That Keep Me Up at Night
You ever hit submit on a discussion post and realize you have a soccer tournament, a race, and three exams all in the same week?
Yeah. Same.
There are weeks I wonder, What’s the point? Why am I doing this to myself?
But then I remember: I’m not chasing a grade—I’m chasing freedom.
My Signature Study Method? Crying + Community.
Look, I’ve tried all the “top 10 study tips” on TikTok. I even bought the cute highlighters. But nothing works quite like:
- Crying while rereading Chapter 6
- A good accountability partner who reminds me I’m not a complete failure
- And group study sessions with people who get it—because there’s something healing about studying with others who are also barely hanging on
Studying in a group hits different when you’re all equally confused but still cheering each other on like, “Girl, you totally almost understood that last question.”
Comparison Is a Liar (But I Still Fall for It)
Some days, I catch myself looking at my younger classmates like:
“If I had started when I was 18, I’d be sipping iced coffee in my dream career by now.”
But then I remember: I’ve got a whole life outside of school. Kids. Hobbies. A marathon to train for. A bedtime routine that involves reading and falling asleep mid-paragraph.
This isn’t just a school comeback—it’s a whole life glow-up.
The Biggest Lie I Told Myself
“I should be farther by now.”
That sentence right there? It almost stole my peace.
But I’m rewriting the story. I’m realizing that money, titles, and timelines don’t define success. Freedom does.
And this degree? It’s a tool—not just to earn more, but to live more. To be present. To build something for my boys. To show them it’s never too late to reinvent yourself—flip phones and all.
What’s Keeping Me Grounded
Right now, I’m pouring into what I call my pillars (shoutout to The 5AM Club):
- Mindset: Failing doesn’t mean I’m a failure.
- Soulset: Protecting my peace, praying, and letting go of perfection.
- Physical: Marathon training keeps me sane and strong.
- Emotional: Being honest about the hard stuff (like this post).
So no, I’m not a 4.0 student. Yet.
But I am showing up. Learning. Growing.
And redefining success—one slightly late assignment at a time.
💬 Your Turn:
What’s one goal you’ve been chasing that made you question your sanity—but also made you proud just for trying? Drop it below—I want to hype you up.
☕️ Loved this post? Fuel the next one (or my next long run) with a coffee!
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