To the library

I leave the noise of campus behind and head straight for the library, determined to start the year differently. Inside, everything is quieter—the soft hum of the air conditioning, the occasional shuffle of papers, and the faint tapping of keyboards. I find a table in the back, unpack my laptop and notebooks, and take a deep breath. If I stay focused, maybe I can avoid all the drama and distractions waiting outside.

I spend the next hour mapping out my final year: classes, assignments, exams, graduation requirements, and the weeks when the workload is likely to get brutal. I write down everything I need to finish and break it into manageable pieces. Looking at the schedule, I realize just how much work is ahead of me. Still, I feel a little more in control. If I can keep my head down and get through this year, I’ll finally have my degree—and hopefully make it to graduation without getting myself into trouble.

My phone buzzes against the table. I glance down and see a text from my girlfriend.

“Good luck on your first day ❤ I know you’re going to do great. You’ve got this.”

I smile to myself and stare at the message for a moment. With everything around me competing for my attention, seeing her name is a reminder of what—and who—I’m actually doing all this for.