In high school, I knew I wanted to go into the medical field, but I also knew I loved procrastinating and not doing my math homework. Oops.
College and Grad School felt light-years away, so I didn’t take things seriously... until my sophomore year, when I got placed into a lower-level algebra class. That was a wakeup call I didn’t know I needed. I suddenly felt this fire to prove myself – not just to others, but to me. I studied like never before and ended the class scoring 90-100 on every exam just to see if I could do it.
From that point on, academic validation became my love language. In my last two years of college, I traded in parties and outings for all-nighters and highlighters. If I wasn’t studying, I felt guilty. If I didn’t get an A, I felt defeated. My GPA started to feel less like a number and more like my entire personality.
Spoiler Alert: that’s not healthy.
Now, as I start my second my year f pharmacy school. I'm learning more important that any drug classification or lab value: I am not my GPA, and neither are you.
Here’s what’s helping me shift my mindset:
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Remember why you started
You didn’t choose this path just to chase perfect grades. You chose it to help people, to be a healer, and to do something meaningful. A single exam score doesn’t erase your purpose.
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Celebrate progress, not perfection
Got a C on an exam you thought you failed? That’s still a win. I’ll be honest, this definitely happened to me in my first year, but hindsight is 20/20. I appreciate that grade so much more now that I’m on the other side.
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Take breaks, like actually
This one took me a while. But studying nonstop doesn’t make you a better student; it just makes you a tired one. Go on a hike with your dog, get boba with friends, or take a guilt-free nap.
If you’re anything like me, letting go of a GPA obsession won’t happen overnight but little by little you’ll start seeing your value in the laughs you share, the memories you cherish, and the person you’re becoming. Give yourself more credit and be kind to yourself!
Best of Luck and congratulations!