Grit and Resilience Will Take You Far

College is considered by many to be the next great opportunity for personal growth and advancement. It can be a major milestone to receive that "congratulations" admissions letter that will one day lead to you crossing that big stage as a college graduate. But in between all that, there are new experiences, challenges, and a lot of life happening to all of us. And when things get difficult or uncomfortable, this is when I encourage you to have grit and be resilient.

When I was in college, grit and resilience were essential to my success.

But what does that really mean? Grit can be defined as having courage and determination during difficult times. And resilience is the ability to withstand or recover from the challenges we face.

As a power combo, grit and resilience can help keep your spirits up as you weather the storm. It also makes you stronger and wiser to navigate other challenges throughout life. This dynamic duo can be crucial for college students as they pursue their degree. Every day will not be your best day, and I believe it is important to grasp and build on the resolve to overcome.

When I was in college, grit and resilience were essential to my success. There were times when I was extremely home sick, struggling in a class, and experiencing imposter syndrome. Some days were harder than others, but grit and resilience did not only give me the intrinsic arsenal to tackle my issues, but also helped push me to seek out resources and support on my campus. Whether that is a visit to the ARC (academic resource center), or a pep talk with a mentor, I was surrounded by good company and took advantage of the services on campus to help me overcome the hard times.

It is natural to have doubt, fear, and anxiety. But I always tell students to give themselves grace in new and challenging situations, and if you are ever on our campus there is always a helping hand to help build and empower you towards your success.