The purpose of this column is to support you. First-Gen Life will offer tips, stories, and guidance to help first generation students not just survive, but thrive here at the University of California, Riverside (UCR).
Let’s be honest, midterm season hits hard and fast. Especially when you are first gen. There is a feeling that every grade is the final verdict on whether or not you deserve to be here. You tell yourself, “If I fail this midterm, that’s it. I’m done.” But it’s not the end of the world.
A single poor grade does not make you a failure. Trust me, we’ve all been there, but everyone’s academic path has its ups and downs. The work you put in to get into UCR and the kind of future you can create is not defined by a single percentage.
As a first-generation student, you are already making progress and paving the way for future generations. There is more to your journey than a single test. Don’t allow a small setback to change the narrative you’ve put so much effort into creating. Your future deserves the tenacity you’ve put into your present, so learn from your failures, brush it off and keep going.
The strain of the entire quarter can seem to have piled up into one week. You’re most likely balancing several classes, possibly a job, expectations from your family and the ongoing feeling that you must prove yourself. You are studying for everyone who believes in you, not just yourself, so the stress you feel is different. One bad grade could feel like the end of the world under that type of pressure, but it’s not. It is only a single chapter in a much longer book.
It is critical to keep in mind that your self worth is not tied to the score you see on Canvas. That number does not reflect your late-night study sessions, your sacrifices or the courage it takes to brave college as a first-gen student. It does not reflect the obstacles you have overcome or the ambition that keeps you going. You are learning, adapting and growing through every test, even the ones that do not go your way.
Give yourself a minute when you receive a disappointing result, and utilize it as motivation rather than evidence of failure. Next time, try a different strategy, modify your study schedule or ask for assistance. Improvement occurs gradually, not all at once. Before they excelled, every genius you looked up to made mistakes.
With that said, during midterm season, take a deep breath. You belong here, even when things do not go as planned. One bad grade does not close any doors. It just means that you have to push harder. Success is not defined by a test, it’s defined by your determination.
