Nine years and nine months.That’s how long it will be from my high school graduation to when I graduate from Ohio State, March 21.No, I did not attend OSU for nine years, I took off four years and worked. Actually, I partied most of the time and worked some of the time.The road to graduation has not been easy though. I was kicked out of OSU not once, but twice before I got my act together.College isn’t easy, it takes dedication and discipline, things I didn’t have when I started. I made many excuses for my situation, but I can only blame myself.I did not have a clue what I wanted to do those first few years. I dropped out of OSU three times before I was kicked out the first time. I received a 0.0 grade point average two quarters in a row, yes a 0.0, when I was kicked out. But, I was determined to get a college education. So, I sat out the required year and got back into OSU. I started out well, I had a B average in my first quarter back. After a mess up at UVC, I received three withdraws, which violated the probation I was still on. I was kicked out again. I was mad, angry and frustrated. I was convinced that OSU was one big mess. I thought I would never finish college and would work as a cook at Pizza Hut the rest of my life.After a few years of life in the real world, and a lot of help from my girlfriend, I got my act together.I started at Columbus State Community College for two quarters, taking classes that were transferrable to OSU. I was determined to get back into OSU, but it would be much harder after being kicked out twice.It was Autumn Quarter 1994 when I applied for reinstatement to OSU. As the start of the quarter drew closer, I had not received an answer. I had scheduled classes at Columbus State in case I was not accepted. Determined to get back into OSU, I attended three classes at OSU without being reinstated, hoping that I would get in. After skipping the first four days of classes at Columbus State, I got into OSU.I was pumped up. I wasn’t going to screw-up again. I was determined to graduate from OSU with a journalism degree.I proceeded to make the Dean’s List seven out of the next eight quarters, raising my grade point average from a 1.4 to more than 3.2.What a difference a few years and renewed focus can make. When people hear my story they are amazed. They cannot believe what I have done.It’s hard for me to believe also, after my earlier performances at OSU it was unlikely that I would do this.My determination to accomplish my goal of graduating from OSU pushed me to achieve what I have. I never gave up.That’s the key, never give up.No matter what people say, if you believe in yourself you can do it. Never sell yourself short.If I had listened to all of the relatives, friends, co-workers, and counselors, who had told me it was impossible, I would still be laddling sauce at Pizza Hut.At the age of 27 I will get my degree. I am really happy. I did it, after everything I’ve been through, I did it.If you are struggling or don’t think you can do it, do not give up.Anything is possible if you believe in yourself.

Jeff Forward is a graduating senior majoring in journalism who is finally going to finish college to the dismay of all those who criticized his grammar this quarter.