A difficult day doesn’t mean you’re failing — here are three ways you can find hope and keep moving forward
Cathrym Banda from Peru remembers days when she felt exhausted, confused, and overwhelmed while balancing work responsibilities with school as a BYU-Pathway Worldwide student. There were moments when she cried from stress and wanted to take a break from studying.
Perhaps you’ve had a day like that.
Whether it’s a difficult assignment, family responsibilities, or an unexpected setback, there are moments when school feels overwhelming and it can be hard to keep going.
Those moments are part of nearly every person’s educational journey. The question is: How will you respond when they come?
Grow through the hard days
Sister Emily Belle Freeman, Young Women General President, taught, “This is mortality. A proving ground. A place designed for growth. I have learned that God allows mortality to do its work in us — and that includes both best days and worst days.”If you're having one of those “worst days” right now, remember that sometimes the most life-changing lessons come through difficult experiences.
With time, Cathrym began to see her experience as a student differently. She shared, “Through those difficult moments, I began to see how much I was growing. Little by little, I gained more confidence in myself. I realized that God truly helps us when we do our part and continue moving forward, even when things feel difficult.”
You may not recognize your growth while you're living through it. Yet patience, discipline, resilience, and faith are often developed during life's hardest moments.
Find strength in Jesus Christ
There may be times when you pray for a challenge to disappear and it doesn’t. You may feel alone. But remember that the Savior and His infinite love is always with you.
Sister Freeman shared that when the Apostle Peter struggled to walk on the water and began to sink, the Savior wasn’t watching from a distance. He was right next to Peter. Likewise, Jesus Christ is not distant from your educational journey. He understands discouragement, stress, exhaustion, and the many responsibilities you carry each day — and He wants to help you carry this load.
On your best days and worst days, Christ is always there, ready to strengthen you as you come to Him.
His strength may come through a quiet feeling of peace after you pray, encouragement from a mentor, comfort as you study the scriptures, or reassurance during a weekly gathering.
On your best days and worst days, Christ is always there, ready to strengthen you as you come to Him.
Remember why you started
When school feels overwhelming, it's easy to lose sight of why you started. Remembering your “why” can give you the strength to overcome the hardest days and keep working toward your goals.
Chidinma Columbus, a student from Nigeria, shared, “There were days it felt overwhelming to finish my assignments. But when I remembered my career goal and the importance of obtaining a bachelor's degree, it gave me more reason to keep pushing harder.”
Whatever inspired you to begin your education — supporting your family, getting a better job, or growing as a disciple of Jesus Christ — don't lose sight of it during difficult seasons.
One day, you may look back on your hardest experiences and realize they’re what strengthened your faith the most.
Think about one challenge you are facing right now in your life or in your studies. How are you growing because of it?
If you'd like additional encouragement, explore more student stories and help resources from BYU-Pathway Worldwide.