There’s been a lot of progression this year and I feel really confident in who I’ve become.

Honestly, I feel the most beautiful when I’m able to make an impact on someone else’s life, or when I make my family proud. I’ve been so spoiled by them (not materialistically) but by the love and affirmation they’ve given. I want to succeed because of my family. I will admit, when I was first in college it was centered around making them proud. I was the first one from my siblings to move out of the house and go to college. As I progressed, it became less about the expectations, and more about the potential they saw in me.

Thinking about last year of college it was really rough, especially after winter quarter. But I think that this year I’ve really been working on myself mentally and emotionally. I’ve noticed that I’ve stopped comparing myself to other people, and that was really detrimental to my mental health. I didn’t really see that until this year when I started becoming my own person. I got promoted twice at work in less than six months of working, switched majors because it was a better personal fit, and just moved out of the dorms. There’s been a lot of progression this year and I feel really confident in who I’ve become.

Sure, I get stressed and on some nights; I don’t get enough sleep since I’m both a full-time student and a full-time worker; but some people don’t even get the privilege to feel that stress. Who am I to question everything that has come my way? I don’t want to complain about it and take it for granted. Even when the thought comes to my mind, I remind myself that there are people less fortunate. I’ve come so far, and I don’t want to quit now.