When I walked onto campus as a freshman, I was ready for the classic college experience we have all come to expect: new friends, new challenges, maybe even an effortless rise to academic excellence for the first time in my academic career. Nope. Instead, I got my face slammed into the metaphorical mat.

My first semester started normally. I had my syllabus days, and I met new friends, but I also realized a newfound freedom, that came with being away from home for the first time. The thought that I could do anything and go anywhere I wanted felt almost too good to be true. Spoiler alert— it was. My time management wasn’t the best, and just like that, things started to fall apart, and my GPA? Let’s just say it was more “sweeping the leg” than “crane kick.” I lost motivation, fell into a cycle of self-doubt, and started wondering if college was even for me.

Then, out of nowhere, a 1984 classic changed everything: “The Karate Kid.”

Being introduced to “Cobra Kai” earlier in the year, I thought I would give the original movie a watch, and then there I was, slumped in my dorm room, watching Daniel LaRusso get his butt kicked before finding an unlikely mentor in Mr. Miyagi. And something about it just clicked.

Like Daniel, I felt out of place. Like Daniel, I was getting knocked down. Except, instead of Cobra Kai, it was Intro Psych Science. But then came the lessons.

“Wax on, wax off.” At first, it seemed like busy work. But Mr. Miyagi was teaching discipline, patience and persistence. I realized that even though I wasn’t seeing results right away, every little effort I put into my schoolwork started to add up.

“Man who catch fly with chopsticks accomplish anything.” Okay, I never tried that one (I lack the reflexes of a ninja), but the message couldn’t be any clearer. Having focus, determination, and belief in yourself matters.

“It’s okay to lose to opponent. Must not lose to fear.” That one hit hard. My biggest enemy wasn’t the difficulty of the work. It was myself.

Slowly but surely, I started applying the Miyagi mindset. I made school my number one priority, I asked for help when I needed it, and I kept pushing even when things felt impossible. It wasn’t an overnight transformation, and no epic montage with an ‘80s soundtrack, but semester by semester, I climbed back.

If there’s one thing I learned, it’s that asking for help isn’t a weakness. It’s a strength. We’re not meant to go through this alone. People are what make life meaningful, and leaning on them when you need to is not just okay, it’s necessary. There’s a reason Daniel LaRusso didn’t train alone—he always had someone in his corner. We all need that.

Now, as a senior about to graduate, I look back and see how far I’ve come. My GPA recovered, my confidence grew, and I proved to myself that I could do this. And while Mr. Miyagi never walked me through a final exam, his wisdom and the support of the people around me carried me through the toughest times.

So, to any freshmen out there struggling, feeling lost, or thinking they can’t turn things around, you can. It won’t be easy, and it won’t happen instantly, but small steps lead to big wins. And don’t be afraid to reach out. Help will always be there if you ask for it.

Also, if you haven’t seen “The Karate Kid,” do yourself a favor and watch it. You never know—it might just change your life, too.