I Passed the Test, But Lost Myself

I still remember the smell of Expo markers—how it clung to my hands after hours of cramming formulas on whiteboards. I thought if I just worked harder, stayed later, pushed through the exhaustion, I’d finally feel like I belonged here. But every grade felt like a verdict. Every missed point was proof I wasn’t enough. I started measuring my worth in red pen marks and late-night panic attacks. No one tells you how lonely it gets when you’re always competing, even with yourself. I got the grades. I got the praise. But somewhere along the way, I stopped recognizing the person staring back at me in the library window at 2AM. #AcademicBurnout #GPAAnxiety #CollegeReality #Education