Struggles of a College Student

Written by: Brittany Moss

“This year is going to be my year, I’m claiming it,” as those words continuously flow through my lips each year a new term begins. Persuading myself that each year will be better than the next.

Mindful of ideals and struggles.

Going to college has always been a battle for me, whether college would help me or be a waste of time. I finally decided that not only a degree, but a degree with connections will land me in the right positions. I thought it would come easy, “speak things into existence,” the more I spoke on becoming successful the easier my success would come. Wrong, I needed to work and put in effort for my words to become active. That’s when the real struggle began.

Moving away from home in 2015 was a major change and experience. I had to realize that I was on my own, and it was my duty to make it to class each day. The first two semesters were such a breeze, I enjoyed waking up going to class. I also stayed on campus those first two semesters, with the opportunity of work study. Things were going well, so I thought.

That next school term I was not rewarded work study and needed to find a way to have money. Unlike others, I had to fund myself as much as I could. Being an out of state student made thing very difficult. The only thing I knew for sure would work, is getting a job. I began working as well as going to class, starting to become overwhelmed. I wanted to still be active on campus, but I also took as many hours as possible at work.

Eventually things started to get harder, which I was not expecting. I became depressed and had no one to talk to. I struggled with going to class, but I made sure to make it to work. I began falling behind on assignments and had some of my biggest supporters encouraging me to give up. That did not help my current struggles.

That summer I became homeless staying with someone I thought was a friend. I just knew if I wanted to find a way in Houston, I had to stop running home every break. That summer was my biggest struggle, living with someone, quitting my job, finding a new job and then becoming homeless all over again. By time Hurricane Harvey hit that summer, I was living in a hotel with someone I barely knew.

Eventually, I was able to move out of the hotel and get my first apartment. I stayed alone and finally felt like things were lining up for me. I went to class, tired being more active, as well as working. The only issue was I had no car, which I did not let stop me. I made sure uber or walk to class so I could succeed. That year my GPA sky rocketed, I was in a good space. Though rent was ridiculously too high for me and what I made, but I made it work.

That July my lease ended, and I moved from those apartments. This is when the struggle came back to hunt me. I was not as close to campus as my first apartment, so walking to class was not an option. I found myself spending more money on uber’s, rent and food that I barely had anything left. I slowly but surely began to give up again. People that said they would help me get to school began disappearing and I could only afford either going to work or making it to class.

I chose work, how else would I pay my bills? Though I gave my job my class schedule they continued to schedule me during my class time. I was failing myself with excuses and self-doubt. I wanted to be determined and better, but I was not putting in the effort for things to change. I wanted to point fingers at everyone who was not helping me. When I was the main one not helping myself.

Everyone in college has their own struggles. Its how you choose to deal with the struggle that will determine your outcome. I know I have slacked off with only one semester left. Its time I Stop making excuses and start putting my struggle into my effort to succeed.