Jonathan,
You wouldn’t believe the way your life looks two years from now. The friendships you’ve made, the people you’ve met, the relationships you’ve formed, and the lessons you’ve learned have created the very best version of you. If you could see yourself now, I know that you’d be very proud of the things you’ve accomplished.
You tried different things, like taking courses and engaging in projects and practica that felt a little out of your scope and comfort. You’ve developed expertise in areas you wouldn’t have thought you would, only because you took chances. But, most importantly, you’ve gone through the process to make your dream of finishing graduate school a reality.
You didn’t just do this by yourself. Keep in mind that you were supported by so many people, including your friends, family, Brown School leadership, St. Louis practitioners, supervisors, bosses, and your cat. Remember to take some time to thank them, as they are some of the biggest reasons for you making it here.
But, don’t discredit your own contributions, either. You worked, and you worked hard; late nights, early mornings, long hours. You combated the dreaded imposter syndrome, and you’ve become good at the work you want to do because you realized you deserve to be in those classrooms and in those field placements. You also know, though, that more work is needed to improve and continue to grow. Keep that growth mindset throughout your time at the Brown School, and I know you’ll be grateful for it.
Remember, when things get hard, to reach out to those who care about you. The people in your Brown School community, the leadership, and your friends and family are all rooting for you. They know you are capable, worthy, and prepared to do this.
Remember to stay teachable. Remain curious and open to new perspectives, and stay humble and grounded. Create intention behind everything that you do, and recall that intention when things start to pick up the pace. Remember that this is not the end-all-be-all, and that you will have the rest of your life to continue learning, too.
I’m proud of you, and you will be proud of yourself. See you at the finish line; you’ll be the one in the emerald green gown.