It is Okay to Make Mistakes!

Author: Ashton Leal
Posted on March 2, 2023

Heading into university for the first time is a major adjustment. The first couple months in this new world are especially draining as you get set into your new routines. It can be a time of super high highs and low lows. University is a lot of fun, but there can be a lot of pressure felt to be the best of the best all of the time academically, and that’s something I’ve had to learn to navagate. You will mess up, make mistakes, and wish you had done things differently, but that is okay! It is all part of the process.

A major learning curve for myself during my first year was learning how to study. This is a long-lasting journey that is always improving. In your first semester and first year of university, you really start to figure out what works and what doesn’t in your academic life. Some people would rather work with others while others do their best studying on their own. If you are like me, I do a bit of both! However I find myself studying independently more so than with others. It is also important to understand that something that might take someone else an hour to complete, may take you three. This is totally normal and okay. It is so easy to compare yourselves to others. Some students might seem like “geniuses” with 4.3 GPA averages who are always at the top of their class. You may feel that you aren’t good enough because you aren’t getting those perfect grades. It is easy to get discouraged when you get a midterm back and you didn’t score as high as your pals. This might sound cheesy, but doing the best you can is all you can do, and knowing that you gave it your all is something to be proud of.

In my first year biochemistry, I received my first ever university midterm back. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that I failed my first ever midterm. I began to spiral in my thoughts, questioning if I was meant to be in this program. I stopped myself, took some deep breaths, and decided that I would use that test as mental fuel to thrive, and fight back with a stellar grade. By putting in the work and evaluating my study methods, I did exactly that, passing with flying colours on the rest of the course. Biochemistry ended up being the highest mark on my transcript for the semester. Through this, I learned that it is not the end of the world if you mess up a midterm or an assignment, it just allows for room to grow and improve! It is still possible to be successful even with a few bumps and roadblocks along the way. Many students fail courses and still persevere to be successful individuals.

So, don’t stress too much! You’ve got this, and there are tons of resources on campus to help you reach your goals. Your professors are also there to help you on your journey and they want you to succeed! Go rock this!!!