Brandy D.

Featuring Brandy Dalton

Dear student,

If you’re reading this, I want you to take a deep breath. You’re doing better than you think you are.

Every day, I meet students who are overwhelmed, frustrated, and quietly questioning if they’re enough. You might be scrolling through LinkedIn, watching friends announce internships and job offers, and thinking, What am I doing wrong? Why not me? I know that feeling well, because I’ve been there, too.

Neither of my parents went to college. I didn’t have anyone to call for advice about career paths or internships or “networking.” I remember walking across campus feeling like everyone else had it figured out, like they had some secret handbook I didn’t get. I worked hard, but I constantly wondered if I was smart enough, confident enough, or even deserving of the opportunities I wanted.

If I could go back and tell that younger version of myself anything, it would be this:

You belong here. You are enough. Your journey is not supposed to look like anyone else’s.

One of my favorite quotes:

“You are not behind. You are not ahead. You are exactly where you need to be.” — Unknown

It’s true. The moment you start measuring your worth against someone else’s timeline, you lose sight of the incredible things you’re building on your own. You don’t need to have everything figured out right now. You just need to take the next step, and then the one after that.

Progress isn’t always loud or linear. Sometimes it looks like rewriting your résumé for the tenth time. Sometimes it’s showing up for a networking event even though you’re terrified. And sometimes, it’s giving yourself grace on the days you feel like you’re falling behind.

The truth is, your career — and your life — are a collection of moments that add up to something bigger than you can see right now. You don’t need to have it all mapped out. You just need to keep moving forward, one small, brave step at a time.

You are capable. You are growing. And you are absolutely enough.

With encouragement,

Brandy D., Southern Methodist University

Senior Director, Cox Career Management Center

SMU Cox School of Business

Connect With Us

To follow IfYoureReadingThis at SMU on Instagram, get in touch with our chapter, and learn about more resources available to SMU students, visit our chapter’s homepage.