Do these common classroom catchphrases describe your thoughts during class? “This is too hard” or “Why can’t we do something easier?” or “I hate that class everything we do in here is stupid.” If it does then you are one of hundreds. It seems that as students have made the transition from youth to young adult, the perception of school and the work load associated with it is seen as ridiculous and should be more accommodating to the students. I could not disagree with this sentiment more.

When I was little I’d say to my dad, “that’s not fair” to which he would respond, “life’s not fair.” Now that I’m older, I realize there is a lot of truth in that statement. What happened to personal accountability, initiative, integrity and going the extra mile? If you want something enough and put forth the effort you can achieve any goal, whether it be getting the grade or winning the championship game.

School is what prepares you for college and the real world, and in the real world if you can’t make the deadline, you’re fired. Can’t produce quality work? Fired. This is not meant to scare you, just provide a healthy dose of reality. Complaining about all the work you have to do won’t get you very far in college or at your job or in the real world.

Students do have other obligations besides school.  But you will always be a student first, and a wrestler, StuCo member, cashier or dog walker, second. While school is mandatory, the activities you do after school aren’t. If you can’t find the time because of homework, drop the activity. If that’s not an option, find a way to work with your schedule. If that means getting home at 11 p.m. and doing homework till 2 a.m. and you are OK with that, then by all means, but if you can’t, focus on school. Just don’t complain about everything along the way. You have choices, and you have to live with them.

Next time you want to scream out in frustration, think about whether you are giving every thing you have whole-heartedly. It’s the only way you’ll be successful in life.