Before starting university, some of us graduated among the higher ranks of our respective grad classes. This typically went hand-in-hand with lots of extracurricular activities, sport commitments and many academic achievements under our belts. Once you hit university though, you quickly come to realize that you’ve entered a whole new ball game. When gathering all of these high-ranking new graduates together into a small community, you can quickly go from being “the best” to becoming “average”, which can be an extreme shock. I found one of my biggest personal challenges was having to mentally adapt to being academically similar to many of my peers, when I was so used to be academically superior in high school. Here’s how I did it: 

1. I grieved the hard times.  

When I was in high school, receiving a 99% grade on a test was a hardship since “99% was way too close to 100% to not be mad about it” (yeah, I know, crazy right?). So, when I came to university and received my first lower grades back, to say I grieved was an understatement. Midterm disappointment is a very real thing, and something most of us go through at some point, so having gained the knowledge and experience to get through this was crucial to my development as a student. 

2. Grades don’t define you.  

Yeah, I know. Everyone tells you how grades aren’t who you are. But at university, it can be really difficult to have this mindset when what you’re here to do, is study! But just because you failed that one midterm, doesn’t mean you’re destined to drop out and go live as a savant in the woods (although that would be a really good gig). Getting yourself through the hoop of thinking your only personality trait is being on the Dean’s List is essential to your mental health throughout your whole journey at Mount Allison. 

3. Scholarships can be really hard to keep.  

Lots of us come to university with some form of academic or entrance scholarship, which seems like a sweet deal. But odds are, that scholarship has some strings attached, and it can be difficult to cash in on the whole amount. Setting the goal to maintain the academic GPA requirement for your scholarship is very important, but sometimes hard to accomplish. Don’t drive yourself into the ground to keep the money if it means you need to take a year off to refuel yourself. 

4. You are your biggest critic.  

You are the only one who can help yourself accept the situation you’ve been put in. By becoming more accepting of your abilities and embracing what works for you, you’re setting yourself up for a wonderful, and more successful, academic year, with the lessened stress of “having to be the best”. Remember, stress is normal (more than we’d like), but becoming a hot mess ain’t helping nobody. 

Love yourself and accept your abilities, you are in a competition with no one but yourself, so get out there and rock those grades. You got it dude.