The past two years have been the most trying years of my life. When I say trying, I mean in every mental, emotional, and physical avenue fathomable. I don’t share much of my life on social media, but what most everyone doesn’t know is that I’ve struggled immensely in all forms possible during these years. My mental health was pushed to its limit, I was broken in more ways than one, and I lost everything good I had ever known. It seemed as though just when I thought things could not get any worse, they did just that. Still, I had to find a way to balance the taxing demands of my academic, professional, and personal lives. How does one compartmentalize when your world is continually falling apart? Inhale – exhale. I taught myself how to pack away the depression when it wasn’t suitable for my role on any given day. More days than not, there was no way of hiding the overt darkness lingering overhead. Despite the myriad of sleepless nights and Redbull shotguns, I learned a great deal about the person I am and what my place is in this world. I send a warm thank you for my true few that held it down for me and supported my journey when no one else was in my corner. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the benevolence of those able to love and accept all parts of me. Although I may not feel like I’ve won in all realms of life, today, I have come out on top, and I’m damn proud of everything I’ve managed to accomplish. These past two years will forever be marked as bittersweet, but I'm so ready for the next chapter and to continue my lifelong learning. Now watch me take the world by storm. #TwoDegreeShawty 🎓 (at George Mason University)
