​Jordan Graham

When I first came to the University of Washington, I thought that I had it all figured out. I had a plan of all the classes I was going to take, which quarters, and what prereqs I needed for different graduate schools. I took the math series that would allow me to get into the science classes I needed to take for physical therapy, and continued into taking chemistry my sophomore year. After my first quarter of chemistry, I wanted to quit college. I got the worst grade I’ve ever gotten in my entire education, and I did not know what to do. My overall GPA was decent at this point, but I really wasn’t happy with how my education had been going so far. I had dreamed about becoming a doctor, and I was quickly realizing that this wasn’t going to happen. This also happened to be the same quarter that I started my office with Panhellenic, so I think I was so overwhelmed with my new role and time commitment that my studies seemed to be pushed to the side.

 

Ability to organize one’s life and responsibilities

At this point in my education, all I wanted was a re-do button. Going into spring quarter sophomore year, I knew I needed a change. I was uncertain which pathway I should choose, and became very anxious about what the future would hold for me if I changed my mind about what I wanted to do with my life. I still wanted to remain a psych major, as those were the few classes that I enjoyed. I felt like I was torturing myself going through science classes I absolutely hated, and really could not understand. I was so overwhelmed with all of my new responsibilities, that I became a nervous, anxious, and closed off student. Spring quarter, I decided to take a break from chemistry and other sciences, and earned myself my very first 4.0 grade in a class that I took just for fun because I was interested in the subject. I created a new schedule that allowed me to balance my time between my leadership obligations, my jobs, my classes, and my new boyfriend who I had stated dating a few months before. I finally had figured out how to organize my own life, and all of the new responsibilities that I was given.

 

Ability to manage and cope with change and uncertainty

Going into my junior year, I decided to add a minor in Anthropology, a topic that had always interested me. As it turns out, I was really good at it. I found a perfect combination and balance of classes between psychology and anthropology that I have made Dean’s List every single quarter since then. I have been able to raise my overall GPA almost a full 0.5 points higher, and I am in love with my studies. I have been able to adapt to this new lifestyle of organization, balance, and time management that I don’t know if I would’ve been able to do if I didn’t hit such a low point in my scholastic career. I carry on these skills in my daily life now, and am able to adapt these skills to more than just school. Through a very difficult time, I was able to cope with the possibility of failure, and manage my life to a brighter perspective towards a new pathway that I could be successful.