How I did it: I simply didn't give up.  That's the single thing that actually explains how I did it.  Sure I did alot of counseling, got depressed, put myself tens of thousands of dollars deeper into debt than I needed to, developed a self-image of very little discipline and self-efficacy, tried again and again and again and again and again and again to succeed at little tasks like opening books or doing homework...but really, the only way it ever actually got done was simply just crawling painfully until one day, I crossed the finish line...

Lessons & tips: You are NOT alone in your struggle to finish college.  Build a support network.  Be aware of your thinking and exercise mental discipline in order to not become hopeless.  Even if you are absolutely LOST in self-doubt, you have to at least retain hope that there is *some* way it can be done...because it can.

Resources: I created an easily accessible folder on my desktop called "inspirational" full of quotes and stories and audio files from Tony Robbins and the like.  It wasn't hard to get into a habit of reading any of that stuff whenever I felt down or discouraged.  Pray to a higher power.  If you're too intelligent to believe in one, just think "fuck it, I'm going to die one day, at least I tried something to give me hope and help me succeed" you'll be glad you did.

Oct 07, 2009, 09:40AM PDT | 1 comment | 3 cheers