School is difficult. That is a reality that students have to deal with every day while attending college. Students are required to attend classes daily and complete homework nightly while working a job and maintaining some semblance of a social life. It is easy to see why students, especially those who are embarking on the college journey for the first time, can become fatigued with the monumental task of acquiring a degree.

I am one of the many students who juggle all of the above and, after three and a half years of school, I came to the realization that the key to success is finding a formula that works for you. Figuring out my formula has helped me achieve an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.742.

My formula boils down to time management. I prioritize my agenda based on importance. I am not going to say it is as simple as saying, “This is important and this is not,” but discipline is essential to success.

I keep myself disciplined by ranking my classes on a prioritized list. For me, core classes in my major (history and education) rank highest on that list. For example, if I have a history test, everything else becomes secondary to me. Prioritizing is especially important when multiple assignments are due on the same day.

Additionally, I try not to stress too much about all the things I have to do. I am confident in myself and I know that I will get all my work done when the time is right. Even when work and school pile up, I always know my deadlines and I work to get things done, as they are due.

The next step in my process is finding time for fun. While studying, I always try to take a break to eat a nice meal with my friends and my girlfriend. This provides me with a chance to vent my stress and recharge my brain for my next hardcore study session.

The final step in my process is always having a goal to achieve. My goal is to have a 3.8 when I graduate. Setting such an intense goal for myself has challenged me and required hard work. Having a goal allowed me to bring my GPA up from a 3.2 in Spring 2009 to the GPA I have today.

Being in college is an amazing experience that should be exciting, fun and challenging. That being said, it is important to remember that the point of being in school is to earn a degree and move on to bigger, better things. Start the new year by finding your formula in order to achieve your goal GPA.