Meet Lena, a fourth-year environmental science student who came to the University of Waterloo with a passion for sustainable development. Initially overwhelmed by the competitive atmosphere, she became disenchanted with her grades but gradually shifted her focus towards enjoying her studies. This newfound mindset not only improved her grades significantly but also earned her a teaching assistant position and an opportunity to collaborate on a groundbreaking research project with a professor. Lena is now an advocate for finding joy in academia and often mentors first-year students about balancing grades with passion.