You know the feeling when someone tells you you can’t do something, right? It royally pisses you off and just makes you want to prove them wrong.  I went to three different colleges in four years. I know, crazy right? When my brother passed away I was in my first semester at James Madison University (JMU). I went home every single weekend to see my family & grieve because I just couldn’t take seeing all my friends partying it up on the weekends, so carefree and with no worry. I can’t get mad at them, that’s what college is for and they were right where they were supposed to be. Me on the other hand, I was just thrown into a life and reality I wanted nothing to do with. I lost a part of me and my family was broken. I couldn’t go out and pretend to be happy at college when they were at home in pain; it just wasn’t something I could deal with.

After finishing the first semester (just barely and with dropping a class), I decided to move back home and go to community college to finish out all my general classes. It was rough and depressing, I’m not going to lie. Thank god we didn’t have the social media presence we do now cause just seeing a few Facebook pictures of my friends at college was enough to get me down. From there, I was accepted to the University of Virginia (UVA). I was proud of myself that despite all the obstacles I faced, I got into a great school and had the opportunity to still get my bachelors degree. It wasn’t an easy decision to leave home again to go to school, but I felt this was my chance for a small re-do of the college experience. I tried to keep an open mind about everything but deep down I was still depressed and an emotional mess.

Despite the struggles, I was determined to graduate on time in 2010 with my graduating class. I would not give up on that goal and was adamant about it. I will never forget the day I sat with one of the UVA Deans.  After reviewing my transcripts and credits, he looked at me and said something along the lines of “you will never graduate on time in two years, you will have to do an extra semester or two.” REALLY? Watch me Sir, I’m a stubborn Italian who is on a mission. J

I worked my ass off for those two years and tracked my credits like nobody’s business. I transferred all my previous credits from both schools (JMU & community college), which is a nightmare if you’ve ever experienced it. Of course, they left out a bunch of credits, telling me they weren’t transferrable and blah blah blah. After researching into it, I found they “accidentally” left out a bunch of credits that the school actually accepted. #sorrynotsorry – I worked for those!  Never let anyone just dismiss your hard work, fight for it!

Boy did I fight to finish for those two years. I had multiple meetings with counselors to make sure I was on track, studied my ass off, took a winter break class that was 5 days of hell for 3 credits, and I did a summer abroad in Italy. You might be thinking oh Italy isn’t some hardship – no it’s definitely not and it’s a beautiful country – but I was scared shitless to not only leave the country with NO ONE I knew but to leave my family for 5 weeks. Let’s not talk about the mental state I was in, I just wanted to get it over with and earn those credits rather than actually enjoy it. But I digress, in the end I finished and earned every credit I needed to graduate on time with my class, despite being told I couldn’t.

I think that was when I realized I could do anything I put my mind to and so can you! Don’t EVER let anyone tell you you can’t do something. If you want it bad enough, you will get it. Believe that you can do it, be persistent, and don’t let anything get in your way. There are SO many bumps in the road of life but you can and you will overcome them. You just have to make the decision to do it.

And if you need a little help my friends, grab your workout clothes and go sweat the stress!