Exactly the same. Everyone told me I was so smart in High School, I'm so incredibly smart, I never needed to study. College hit and I failed my first year. Big fish, small pond for sure.

High School (and college probably) should have set up time for teaching me how to study, and high school teachers (and my parents) needed to back off saying how smart I was. Or at least back it up. "I'm glad this stuff comes so easily for you, be ready for college though, because you'll be surrounded by people just like you, and they're expecting even more"

You can, but you do have to buckle down, and I know that's a cliche. It took me 6 years to get a 4 year degree. 1st year I partied too much, and I wasn't emotionally ready. 2nd year I went to a smaller school, a 2 year college and it made a huge difference. Smaller classes, more one on one time with the professors. by the time I finished the 2 year school I was finally ready for a 4 year.

I had moments though. I thought about dropping out early on. I remember talking to a mentor saying I'd be fine if I did, and that I had tried. They looked me squarely in the eyes and said "Bullshit. I know you could have tried harder". That hit me hard. I was surrounded by parents who supported me and said I probably did everything, to have someone call me out like that, it really hit me hard.

You can do it - if you really dedicate yourself to it. College is not easy. It's not fun. I have nightmares about finals even now, a decade later. But I don't regret forcing myself through. I wasn't an A student, I was a solid C student, but it was worth it.

Bachelors in computer networking