I can’t believe the moment is finally here.
When I was first accepted to UT in 2016, it felt like a dream come true...but with a classic tint of imposter syndrome. Even though I had a high GPA, my SAT score was below average and on top of it all, I realized very late into my senior year of high school that I didn’t want to pursue medicine, so all my resume experience was science-based. On top of that, I went into college as an advertising major with little to no experience in advertising. In the years that followed, I always thought that I wasn’t good enough or smart enough to thrive here, and you can probably understand why graduating college is such a HUGE deal for me.
From fighting and crying with my die-hard medical field parents to pursue a legal education and paving the path for myself through a lot of phone calls, emails, and coffee dates, google folders, office hours and more, college has been quite a journey.
It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t supposed to be. I’ve cried a lot. Laughed a lot. Screamed a lot. Dreamed a lot. Been rejected a lot. Been accepted a lot. Loved a lot. Lost a lot. However, altogether, these experiences have given me so much. So much love, so many lessons, so many memories like falling asleep on Ushna’s couch, playing tag on a rooftop, scamming the Nueces parking garage administration, eating at Potbelly too many times, living at the Student Union (RENT FREE!), getting out of my comfort zone and doing improv, late nights of cramming at Bennu, directing and acting in short films with Nida, and most recently, oversleeping and nearly missing the last final of my undergraduate career...college wasn’t at all what I expected, but looking back, I wouldn’t change it for the world (okay maybe like four things).
My graduation commencement was surreal, and I owe it all to the people in my life who came out and supported me with their huge outpour of love and encouragement. Most importantly, a huge thank you to my parents. Mamma and Pappa, I owe EVERYTHING to you. My parents have supported me every step along the way, and even if they didn’t agree with what I did (see: dropping pre-med), they never stopped me from chasing my dreams. My parents have always trusted me to do what’s best for myself and more than anything, I hope that today and forever, I make them proud.
However, I will say that even now, I feel odd accepting a degree from UT. When I say that my parents support me, I don’t just mean emotionally. I mean financially. Socially. In every way that they could. And don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying this to boast about this fact, or to “toot my own horn” but I’m not going to say that I obtained this degree through completely my own efforts and energy. This is me coming to terms with my privilege, and acknowledging it. I’m not a self-made woman, nor do I claim to be. I succeeded not just because I worked hard, but because I had to resources and financial backing to fail and still be okay.
So I just want to take this time to not only share my great news but heavily congratulate those who worked hard, despite all the odds, to pay for their own degrees and to push themselves all on their own. I see you, I support you, and I applaud you.
Also, if you ever need help when it comes to pursuing a non-STEM major, or just need someone to look over your college applications/need advice, please don’t hesitate to fill out the contact form on my blog. It was only through the support and encouragement of random mentors and people who believed in me that I was able to get through my undergraduate degree. If I can be that person for anyone else, it would mean the world to me.
When I was first accepted to UT in 2016, it felt like a dream come true...but with a classic tint of imposter syndrome. Even though I had a high GPA, my SAT score was below average and on top of it all, I realized very late into my senior year of high school that I didn’t want to pursue medicine, so all my resume experience was science-based. On top of that, I went into college as an advertising major with little to no experience in advertising. In the years that followed, I always thought that I wasn’t good enough or smart enough to thrive here, and you can probably understand why graduating college is such a HUGE deal for me.
From fighting and crying with my die-hard medical field parents to pursue a legal education and paving the path for myself through a lot of phone calls, emails, and coffee dates, google folders, office hours and more, college has been quite a journey.
It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t supposed to be. I’ve cried a lot. Laughed a lot. Screamed a lot. Dreamed a lot. Been rejected a lot. Been accepted a lot. Loved a lot. Lost a lot. However, altogether, these experiences have given me so much. So much love, so many lessons, so many memories like falling asleep on Ushna’s couch, playing tag on a rooftop, scamming the Nueces parking garage administration, eating at Potbelly too many times, living at the Student Union (RENT FREE!), getting out of my comfort zone and doing improv, late nights of cramming at Bennu, directing and acting in short films with Nida, and most recently, oversleeping and nearly missing the last final of my undergraduate career...college wasn’t at all what I expected, but looking back, I wouldn’t change it for the world (okay maybe like four things).
My graduation commencement was surreal, and I owe it all to the people in my life who came out and supported me with their huge outpour of love and encouragement. Most importantly, a huge thank you to my parents. Mamma and Pappa, I owe EVERYTHING to you. My parents have supported me every step along the way, and even if they didn’t agree with what I did (see: dropping pre-med), they never stopped me from chasing my dreams. My parents have always trusted me to do what’s best for myself and more than anything, I hope that today and forever, I make them proud.
However, I will say that even now, I feel odd accepting a degree from UT. When I say that my parents support me, I don’t just mean emotionally. I mean financially. Socially. In every way that they could. And don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying this to boast about this fact, or to “toot my own horn” but I’m not going to say that I obtained this degree through completely my own efforts and energy. This is me coming to terms with my privilege, and acknowledging it. I’m not a self-made woman, nor do I claim to be. I succeeded not just because I worked hard, but because I had to resources and financial backing to fail and still be okay.
So I just want to take this time to not only share my great news but heavily congratulate those who worked hard, despite all the odds, to pay for their own degrees and to push themselves all on their own. I see you, I support you, and I applaud you.
Also, if you ever need help when it comes to pursuing a non-STEM major, or just need someone to look over your college applications/need advice, please don’t hesitate to fill out the contact form on my blog. It was only through the support and encouragement of random mentors and people who believed in me that I was able to get through my undergraduate degree. If I can be that person for anyone else, it would mean the world to me.
RSS Feed
