I realized that I came to college for me – not for my family, friends, or even the teachers that helped me get there. The late nights of studying, crying, and overruling battles of depression, anxiety, and stress would not matter if I did not commit.

Mental illness affects everyone differently and in different areas of our lives. Our lives and our coping mechanisms are all different. This includes affecting us academically.

These programs go by a variety of names such as early assurance, guaranteed admissions, or BS/MD programs. In summary, they allow for students to gain preliminary acceptance into medical school assuming they meet the individual program’s minimum requirements.

Now, after a successful fall and spring semester, I can reflect on all the lessons that I learned from one school year to the next. Here are some highlights of what I learned:

Competition. Contesting. Stressful. Difficult. Complex. Taxing. Rough. I asked a few of my friends at Cornell to describe their academic livelihoods in one word, and these seven words were the most common.

I have always enjoyed creating, developing, and having a mentor relationship as a mentor and mentee. By sharing my knowledge and experience, I hope to provide some insight and persuade you to not only find a mentor but also to give back and be a good mentor to others. 

There are fears both common among all students and specific to some that we all have coming into college. I will be sharing five personal fears I had coming to college and how I overcame them.

With that said, here’s to four years and four takeaways or tidbits of wisdom to navigating your college experience and maximizing your moments.