Graduating From College: Not a Race

By Ellie Drabnis on December 22, 2016

I have finished my undergraduate studies a semester early. I had no intention of being done with my studies early. Really, I was just doing my best and I guess those six credits I was awarded for AP Spanish class in high school and completing the AP Spanish Exam with a good score really did have merit, after all.

But, I want to put it out there that graduating from college is not a race, and it needs to stop being treated as such.

There are plenty of students out there taking an extra semester or even an extra year or two in order to finish their undergraduate studies. They have not done something wrong. Also, taking some extra time to complete their college career is not reason enough to label these students as unintelligent.

Oh, no.

Graduation is by no means a race.
(https://pixabay.com)

When one finishes their undergraduate studies has absolutely nothing to do with their intelligence. Once again: graduating from college is not a race and we should all stop treating it as such.

I know plenty of people of all different majors who may need to take at least an extra semester to meet all of their university or degree requirements. There is absolutely nothing wrong with these individuals.

(https://pixabay.com)

They are doing what is best for them personally; maybe they needed to retake a course for a better mark or need to take a required course that they missed because of poor guidance they received. Or, maybe they ended up switching majors and are playing a little game of catch-up with their required classes. Whatever the reason for extra time being spent on their degree, it doesn’t matter.

The point is: these students are continuing their education no matter what. They are going to come out on the other side of the tunnel as a degree-holding individual in their chosen field.

So, next time you hear someone explaining that they are not graduating in exactly four years from their college or university, do not mumble something insulting under your breath or just assume that they can’t handle college-level studies.

Once again: graduating from college is not a race

No matter how long it takes someone to achieve their endgame of getting their degree, having the perseverance and grit to stick with it shows that they are not giving. Continuing forward until a certain goal is met is very much a winner if I ever did see one.

(https://www.pexels.com/)

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