Tired, overworked, yet satisfied...

“Are college students today faced with more pressures than college students in the past?” “College Pressures” by William Zinsser, is an essay written in the 1970’s that informs and persuades readers about pressures that a student may face due to high academic expectations. Zinsser discusses these pressures and states that they are caused by, overachieving and trying to satisfy the expectations of others. I feel that I put a great deal of pressure on myself, along with pressures from peers, parents and our society. There are days that are harder then others when it comes to my academic life as a college student. I find today to be one of the harder days. I feel tired and overworked, yet I am still satisfied. Although I am overwhelmed, I find the strength within me to keep going. I think this strength comes from my will power and knowing that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Some days it’s harder to find that strength within me, but I am always able to do it at the end of the day. Primarily because I know I am trying the best I can, and I know that I have a desire to contribute to this society. It has become easier to find that strength since I changed my major from Public Relations to Sociology. Now, I get my drive from my end goal, which is to help people. I don’t know exactly what I will do with my degree, but I know that I want to continue my education and attend graduate school. I am strongly considering Public Policy or Gender Studies for my major. Whatever I decide on going after I earn my B.A degree will be something that helps our society in some way, and hopefully will enhance the life of others. So, the point that I am trying to make is that the strength is within you—the college student—and it is possible to find that strength, however you have got to dig hard sometimes, and not give up on the hard days. So tonight, instead of dwelling on my tiredness and being overworked, I will focus on the satisfaction that I get from wanting the best future for myself, and the fact that I can even attend college to begin with. Many people do not get this opportunity, and an education has become a luxury than a right. It feels so empowering to know that my destiny is not prewriten, and that I can shape my future the way I want. 
I feel very blessed to have the opportunities I have, and I will never let anything stop me from taking full advantage of these opportunities. 

Cheers, 

Melissa Fenerci