*Imagine this* You’ve been accepted to college, and you’ve arrived in your new city, state, or maybe even country. You’re eager and can’t wait to start this new life. It’s exciting but a little scary. Everyone tells you these will be the best 4 years of your life… No one tells you that when you walked through this PWI (predominately white institution) you may feel alone, and as you sit in your first class you can’t see anyone that looks like you.
Now, unfortunately, for many this isn’t something we have to imagine; it’s our current reality. It can be difficult to navigate places that don’t represent you as a black woman. I vividly remember my first semester of freshman year. I moved 4 hours away from home to another state, I didn’t know anyone, but I was so excited. My biggest desires were a new scenery and environment but I didn’t know that it would come with so much stress, anxiety, and uncertainty.
What’s the point?
With homesickness, rejection, and anxiety, I experienced it all and then decided to do it all again. I made a choice to move states to attend an even larger PWI. I’m about 8 hours away from home, I knew no one here when I moved, and the same excitement that plagued me before carried me into my master’s program. Except for this time, I am a little older, a little wiser, and I’ve done this before, meaning I have a few more tools in my toolkit to support myself.
I’m here to share that while it’s extremely tough, you can do this. I hope that through the Grad Girls Club, you and I can build our toolkit. Obtaining a degree doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your comfort, mental health, and overall growth. You can have it all.
I would like to thank you for the efforts youve put in penning this website. I really hope to check out the same high-grade content by you later on as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own website now 😉
Such helpful information for young women with aspirations. Sounds like the best ‘do it afraid’ advice people of any age and stage can use.