It was the end of my freshman year at the University of Washington when I checked my grades from the library computer. I must have typed in the wrong name and password, I thought, because those numbers posted on the screen couldn’t have possibly been my grades. From the start, I was excited about college. I looked forward to the challenging courses and new opportunities that higher education would bring. I filled my class schedule with difficult courses such as Chemistry and Physiology and took on as many opportunities as I could such as my research assistant position. But soon I became overwhelmed by the demands of both my activities and classes. I found myself behind in readings, unable to complete assignments, and doing poorly in exams. Since the University prides itself on independence, I assumed that success was purely individual- that I had to rely only on myself. However, I later realized that in order to succeed I would also need to rely on the help and collaboration of others.
I spoke to an advisor to get back on track. She emphasized the importance of taking advantage of the available opportunities, not to hesitate to ask for help, and to plan and organize my activities. I listed all the prerequisites I would still need for the pre-nursing program. Instead of overwhelming my schedule rushing to complete them in a single quarter, I planned out my schedule by spreading the required courses throughout the year. This allowed me time to take courses that interested me while still participating in extracurricular activities and obtaining a job. I also managed my time by making checklists of the tasks to complete for the day, allowing me to finish my school work, go to work, and tutor elementary students.
Additionally, I sought assistance from different tutoring programs on campus, where I was able to receive personal tutoring and group workshops. I formed study groups and sought my professors during their office hours, for more clarification on...