To use a track-and-field analogy, hurdles are the obstacles that runners have to leap over to continue their race. Sometimes they clear the jump with no problem. Sometimes they trip and fall but quickly get up to continue running. And yet other times they trip and it takes a while to get back up to finish the race.

So it goes with school. Think of it like a race—it’s mostly a straightforward path with the occasional hurdle to clear. Many you’ll jump over without a problem, some might trip you up a bit, and still others might cause real delays.

You’re not alone

The key thing to realize when encountering obstacles, barriers, or hurdles in your education journey is that you’re not alone. Everyone experiences similar things. The main thing is how you handle them.

Through thousands of conversations with adults going back to school, we’ve identified a few of the more common obstacles and how to overcome them.

Overcoming the inevitable

Fear of failure

The disappointment of past failures, or failing to achieve certain goals in the past, can weigh heavily on the most optimistic of us. And of course, it can affect the pursuit of current or future goals—after all, wouldn’t it be easier to just not try?

The best way to overcome fear of failure is to shift your mindset. The sooner you see success as progress and not perfection, the better. Failures and setbacks along the way are to be expected. When shifting your outlook, it’s helpful to learn about and adopt a growth mindset.

School/Work/Life Imbalance

If there is a common life story, this is it. It can be tough to balance school with work and a personal life that includes your interests, social life, and not to mention family.

This one mainly comes down to management of your time and priorities. We have some tips and advice for managing work, school, and life like a pro here.

Finances

Another universally major obstacle is how to pay for college. Whether you have the money, plan to continue working full-time, need scholarships, grants, loans, or any combination of these, it’s often difficult to imagine how it will happen. The answer to this lies in educating yourself and making decisions on the solutions that work best for you. You can start by learning about the different types of financial aid here.

Health Issues

A big obstacle to finishing school for many is health issues. Whether that means ongoing, chronic issues or unexpected medical conditions, they can really interrupt your life, academic or otherwise. While treatment is up to your healthcare professionals, we can recommend tending to your mental health through self care.

Take care of you

In the end, the most important thing is for you to take care of you. Prioritize yourself and your well-being, and you’ll learn that accomplishing your goals is a matter of time, effort, and the right mindset.

In your education journey, you’re the runner. The hurdles will come, but with enough training, you’ll clear each one with no problem.