My Invisible Knapsack

      Until very recently, I have never had a great deal of success with my education. More college semesters than not, I have withdrawn from at least one class to spare myself from receiving a failing grade. As I walk into new classrooms at the beginning of each semester, I cannot help but to internalize that my professors can instantly pinpoint this about me and label me as an 'average'or even 'below average' student. Perhaps it isn't so much an invisible knapsack as it had been described in class, but rather an invisible name tag that reads, "Hi, I'm Garrett. Take caution when grading my work. Although I write fairly well, I am a low achieving student". Though my study habits and attitude toward my education has change immaculately, I am afraid it will be seen as fraudulent. Though it has been a struggle, I am bound and determined to reevaluate myself in accordance to my more recent educational achievements.
      History repeats itself. I scrapped by through high school and I started here at Northern on the same train. But history also changes and it is taking me a while to accept the changes. Really, to be proud of my recent accomplishments. I shouldn't walk into a classroom at the beginning of a semester and say, "okay, these are the students I will have to keep up with. I should be able to walk into a classroom of unfamiliar peers and be able to say, "great, these are the kids I am going to be working with for the next four months. We will be challenging one another and making each other stronger, more proficient educators". I guess the problem lies within my intellectual confidence. It has come a long way since nearly bringing up the rear of my H.S. graduating class. However, ample progress is yet to be made.