Students are not hardwired to succeed. Every student wants to be successful in high school, college, and beyond, but every student will face obstacles to that success. When my son was born at the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic, I was pursuing my master's degree in higher education, and with this birth of this little boy I was suddenly in the position of suspending my own academic journey, not knowing whether or not I would return to complete the degree. Every day I work with students to help them set and achieve their academic goals, but one thing my son's birth taught me is that students are not hardwired to succeed. No student arrives at university having completely mastered all the skills they need to be successful, because no student can plan ahead for every obstacle they will face in their time in college. Students need advisors and mentors to come alongside them and walk with them through their academic journey precisely because the student does not have all the answers. When coursework competes with jobs, friendships, and family obligations, students often feel torn between their priorities, and, unfortunately, high school simply does not prepare students for this tug of war. Even seasoned higher education professionals struggle with these sometimes competing priorities. It is easy to look at some students and think, "They have it all figured out. They have got it together." Often, however, the exact opposite is true. Students need the support of resources, mentors, and advisors to help them navigate the difficult and confusing world of education. The birth of my son showed me that life events can derail even the most motivated of students. It helped me approach my students with more compassion and grace. It made me a better advisor, mentor, and friend.