During my time at Indiana State University, I encountered many obstacles, some self-imposed, that really forced me to push myself; I’m very thankful I did.

I found myself pulling numerous all-nighters, frequently multiple in a single week. I did this because I wanted a fulfilling college experience before leaving for the “real world.”

I took 24 credits in a single semester and maintained a 4.0, served as an opinions columnist and later the opinions editor, served leadership roles in student organizations, learned from professors outside of the classroom and even learned a bit about cooking and got involved with bicycling.

This all led to me getting my dream job serving a small town as part of my passion for rural development. I attribute this achievement as a direct result of my hard work and showing the interviewers what I am capable of.

Far too often, I see people, even close friends of mine, who lack the perseverance and drive to succeed and they’re left without a sense of direction or tangible progress towards their goals.

People need to open their eyes to the fact that hard work gets rewarded, and the earlier you invest in yourself, the greater the payoff will be.

It doesn’t even need to be solely academic.

I wanted to live a healthier lifestyle. During my early college days, I was surviving off of fast food and energy drinks and my only exercise was walking to and from class.

I soon realized how damaging this was to myself and I sought to turn myself around.

Despite my busy schedule and exhaustion, I picked up new hobbies to better myself.

I started going for runs, going for bike rides, reading for pleasure, and learning to cook healthier meals.

I could have been playing video games or watching movies, but I decided that these endeavors would be better uses of my time; and I was right.

But sometimes people bite off more than they can chew. When that was the case, I knew I had people I could fall back on.

I had friends, professors and family who supported me along the way, offering me words of encouragement and pushing me to keep going even during my lowest, most exhausted points.

People need support. If you are there for someone when they are struggling, they will return the favor. Even someone as callous as myself can acknowledge the importance of caring for your friends and family.

If I could start again, I would have tried to realize this sooner. I watched as some of my friends got discouraged and dropped out of college, or worse.

I almost fell victim to this same fate had I not been rescued at the last minute by my parents who encouraged me to continue my higher education to obtain my degrees. Had I not listened to them, I would almost certainly be in a worse place right now.

That is why I value perseverance so much. Far too often I find myself regretting giving up too early, for missing out on opportunities I could have had if I had only pushed myself a little harder.

I never find myself regretting going for a run or putting a few extra hours into an essay to receive an A.

In contrast, I do remember regretting wasting my day away playing video games or watching YouTube videos instead of studying and eating junk food instead of a healthier alternative.

Do what you know you won’t regret. Keep pushing yourself, even when things look bleak, because even if you fall short of your goal, you will end up stronger than you used to be.