ABINGTON, Pa. — Penn State Abington student Natalie Haggard, who will graduate this December from the University, reflects on her personal journey to graduation. In her own words:
I would struggle, I would flounder, I would fail. I would rise from the ashes, I would thrive, I would succeed. Now as I approach my graduation, I look back on everything that happened. My personal journey to graduation has been long and tough, but still, I don’t regret a thing.
June 9, 2011: It’s so hot. Surrounded by my classmates under the boiling sun, I’m waiting to walk across our graduation stage. My mind is racing, my heart is hammering. This is the start to the rest of my life. I’m going to go to college, I’ll graduate with my veterinary degree in no more than four years. I’m going to study hard, get great grades, have good friends, and enjoy my college experience. How hard can it be, right?
In August, 2011, I was a freshman at Penn State University at beautiful University Park. I was constantly told that I should be so proud, I was so lucky, so many people wanted to be there. And yet, I felt small and lost.
"I can’t believe I forgot that assignment." Again. I’m in such a constant state of panic that I can never seem to remember what assignment is due on any given day. I never had this problem in high school, it really shouldn’t be that difficult. And yet here I am, I’m failing several classes and close to failing in my others. How did I get here? Why can’t I get my head on straight?
As the days passed, I found myself too overwhelmed with everything to focus on anything academic. A professor that taught my pre-vet freshman seminar told us that most of us would not successfully complete the degree. This did nothing to ease my academic anxiety.