Walking, tying your shoes, reading, riding a bike, solving equations…they all seem hard to do at first. But suddenly, one day – it’s not.

We generally enjoy doing things we are good at because they are easiest. But when it comes to post-secondary education, this would be the wrong mentality to have. College is not easy and requires a lot of dedication. Be sure to pick a course you’re passionate about, but don’t be discouraged if it gets hard. You’re definitely not the only one feeling that way! There IS help. Find out what services your school offers and use them. Most schools have tutors, counselors and other friendly staff who are there to help you succeed.

Do not let the difficulty of a particular course effect you personally. Accept that it will be hard and devote yourself to getting through it. Remember – no program is made to be impossible. The best part of learning is surprising yourself about how much you can do. The more you do it, the easier it will become. Giving up is easy, but generally the easy choice is never the right one.

Never say you can’t do anything. The ones who quit so easily without giving it their all are the ones who never really intended to stay. If you are someone with low self-confidence, try saying or writing down some daily affirmations. It may seem silly, but there’s magic in it. Say, “I am strong enough, I am smart enough, I can do it,” over and over again. Looking into the mirror is the best way to do your affirmations because you are confronting yourself. Motivational speaker Tony Robbins said, “People who fail focus on what they will have to go through; people who succeed focus on what it will feel like at the end.” This is what you should focus on, not the obstacles. Think back at other goals you have never accomplished; goals you had set for yourself a year of more ago but gave up on. Now think about what you could have accomplished had you not given up on that goal. Before you submit your application to the program of your choice, go see a counselor and talk to them about it. They know what the courses consist of and can help you make the right decision for you.

It’s your life, it’s your time, it’s your future!