I wish someone had told me it gets better. I finished college in 2.5 years. I drove 9,000 miles across the U.S. on a road trip with my best friend in our gap semester before medical school. I believe it's important to provide my personal perspective to younger students and their families so that they don't feel lost in their own journeys. I encourage students to lean into the challenges they face. Seek out discomfort, but still show yourself grace.