Academic Success: A Student’s Perspective
Written By: Carolyn Yager
If at first you don’t succeed, don’t worry, universities will happily remind you. In fact, they will put it in writing. In my case, twice.
I did the “expected” thing: graduate from high school and move directly to university. The first year was a whirlwind of new experiences, from campus, course content, professors, and administrative forms I didn’t understand, to “independence” that mostly translated into late nights and a social calendar I couldn’t actually afford. Shockingly, this was not a recipe for straight A’s… or even B’s.
Cue my first dreaded letter: Academic Probation. It felt like the school was politely saying, “You’re not as smart as we thought. Maybe leave, but sure, you can try again.” Not exactly a confidence boost. Still, I thought, “Okay, this time will be different.” Reality check: It wasn’t.
Second year ended with a new letter: Academic Debarment, a word I had to Google. Turns out, it is the fancy way of saying: “You failed too hard, too often. Please pack up your stuff and never darken our doorstep again.” Ouch!
I will not lie, it felt like the end of the world. I worried about what my family and friends would think, if I would ever succeed at anything in life, or if I would end up homeless. (My melodramatic inner monologue is Oscar-worthy.) Coincidentally, I was fired from a local doughnut shop that same day. Double ouch! But here’s the thing, it was not the end. It was a detour.
I worked, paid off debts, and lugged around a 50lb backpack of shame. As if the backpack of shame wasn’t heavy enough, I joined the army. Eventually, I gave school another shot. This time, I showed up to class and opened the textbooks. Genius strategy, really. I graduated with a Sociology degree (not Honours, but still). For years, I had the same recurring dream: the university recalculated my GPA, realized I had not met the degree requirements, and revoked my degree. Shame has a way of lingering, like student debt or a hangover.
Later, when a family member was diagnosed with ADHD, I went through testing myself, and things finally clicked. My struggles were not because I was not capable; I just needed different learning strategies. Having that ADHD diagnosis reframed my whole academic past.
I swore I would never go back to university. But “never” does not age well. The what-if questions crept in. I wanted to make a career switch and help other people dealing with difficult transitions in life. This plan would require a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. Problem: my first degree grades were still haunting me. Solution: register at Carleton for a second degree, and this time do it differently.
And you know what? It has been a great experience. As a 4th Year Honours student, here is what has made the difference:
1. Pick passion, not pressure. Study what excites you, not what pleases your family or friends. They’ll survive. Your interests and goals might shift over time; that’s called growth. What you thought you wanted when you applied to university isn’t always the best fit. It’s okay to say, “This course isn’t for me” and move in a new direction. And it’s okay not to have all the answers yet. Meet with an academic advisor and explore your options.
2. Be realistic with your degree timeline. I do not register for five courses per semester anymore. Three is my sweet spot. Add in Spring and Summer courses, and suddenly it is manageable. Some students thrive on a faster pace, while others take longer. Both are valid. Many students don’t graduate in four years, and that’s completely normal.
3. Time management is survival. I used to cram like I was training for the Cramming Olympics. If medals were handed out for late night studying fueled by coffee and panic, I’d have taken home gold. Now I break assignments into chunks and start exam prep earlier. Learning is a lot less stressful when it isn’t powered by emotional meltdowns. Time management isn’t about being perfect; it’s about learning the cycle: deadlines, effort levels and how to juggle school with the rest of life.
4. Use campus resources. I resisted ADHD accommodations for years. Now I embrace them: extra exam time, noise-cancelling headphones and support from The Paul Menton Centre (PMC). Advising, counselling, tutoring, study skills workshops, these aren’t weaknesses; they’re strategies backed by research. Bombed a test? Don’t spiral! Use the resources, reflect, adjust and move forward.
5. Do not fear course repeats. Repeating a course isn’t a setback; it’s academic déjà vu with benefits. I’m repeating one this semester to raise my GPA. The problem last time? The entire grade was based on two multiple-choice exams. And me? I can make almost every answer sound correct in my head (a gift…just not on Scantron sheets). This time around, with a new grading scheme and a different approach, I’m leaning in instead of beating myself up. A repeat isn’t failure, it’s another chance to learn it better.
Academic success isn’t about perfectionism; it’s about persistence, perspective and the ability topivot when things go sideways. Struggle is the tuition no one talks about, but it is what makesgrowth possible. Lean into the challenge, as it is proof you are growing, not proof you do not belong.