For many of us heading into our first year of college, discovering that we have the opportunity to graduate in three years or less may be cause for celebration. It would mean less money spent, less time enduring classes, professors, or classmates we may not enjoy, and less time waiting for our turn to break out into our chosen career field. Then, for others of us, the decision is not so obvious, and deciding whether or not it’s worth it to stick out all four years of undergrad may become one of the first major dilemmas in our professional lives. You may find yourself wondering if entering the workforce early might mean cutting short your enjoyment of your young life. If time is “relative” and “of the essence,” how do you determine how to spend it best? Well, to help those uncertain university students with such an uncommon opportunity answer this question better, I sought the wisdom of my friend Poe, an economics student at NYU who will be graduating in his junior year of college.

When I asked Poe about his motivation for finishing college in three years, he shared about a set of circumstances belonging to a small portion of the international student population. He explained that, “as a passport holder of Taiwan, [he has] to enroll in mandatory military service for one year…Serving in the military would push [him] back one year in college, meaning that while others spend the standard four years to enter the workforce, [he] would have to spend five.” As a result, Poe opted to “graduate one year early,” which would allow him to “fulfill [his] service obligation while also not lagging behind [his] peers.

However, while what he described as “fear of failure,” or even, the fear of falling behind, may have been his initial motivator, it is not what has ultimately allowed him to make it this far. When asked which of his qualities he believes helped to see himself through to his graduation year, he noted his perseverance.

Completing 128 credits in the span of three years is a considerably daunting task, especially when you’re still standing at the start of your freshman year. Poe’s approach to mapping out his semesters began with an empty Google spreadsheet, which he has been using to keep track of “all the courses [he] needs to take…[across] the three years [he’s been] in school.” For Poe, “planning it out visually [made] it less intimidating and more achievable.” He then proceeded to turn his academic planning into scholastic success by studying “at least three days early” and “always [listening] in class,” and through all of the time he spent balancing classes, studying, and working, he learned the skill of persistence. 

I asked Poe how he attempts to cope with burnout as a working student with a full course load, and he shared this bit of insight: ”You are your greatest enemy.” From his philosophy courses he came to understand that “while there are external factors that affect your mindset, how that factor ultimately affects you is up to your own interpretation.” In other words, when you face disappointments or find your plans to have been derailed, you can beat yourself up and stew in the letdown, “or you can think about it as a chance for improvement. It’s all about the mindset.”

In this same vein, Poe admitted that as an early-graduating student, “you definitely will have to make sacrifices.” These could be your social life, hobbies, or time alone to rest, but balancing everything is possible; “it just depends on how strong your mind is at disciplining yourself,” and he is no stranger to life testing the strength of his mind.

He described for me his most challenging semester—when he had received his first F on a midterm. Afterwards, “[he] felt like everything was lost and had no motivation to continue.” Then, he remembered to not be his own enemy, and he gave himself a break to indulge in activities he enjoyed—like visiting parks, hiking, and working out. Apparently, this also included watching Pixar’s Hoppers, from which he offered the quote, “It’s hard to be mad when you’re part of something big”—a reminder “that in the grand scheme of things, we are just one of trillions of creatures on earth, all just trying our best.”

He offers this unique piece of advice to students looking to earn their degree early: “Take one or two philosophy classes… It will change your perspective on life, society, and purpose… If you really listen in class and ask yourself the same questions the philosophers asked, you will gain a better understanding of yourself as a person and how to navigate the world.” And, clearly, the opportunities he took to look beyond his major focus bolstered his overall focus to earn his degree.

By Lauren Gascon 

Lauren Gascon studies Media, Culture, and Communication at NYU and enjoys discussing people’s relationships with each other and themselves. When she’s not on campus, you can find her café hopping, browsing bookstores, or enjoying lunch in one of New York City’s many beautiful parks.

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