Dr. Kevin McDonald

Photo provided by Dr. Kevin McDonald

If you’re reading this, you belong here — not because you've earned it by being perfect or staying on someone else's timeline, but because your presence, your voice, and your story add something irreplaceable to this community.

I spend my days thinking about what makes communities thrive, and I've learned this: belonging isn't something you achieve by checking all the boxes or racing to every milestone first. It's something you claim by showing up as yourself, even when — especially when — you're not sure you fit the mold or your path looks different from everyone around you.

I've watched students compare themselves to peers who seem to have it all figured out — the perfect internship, the flawless resume, the clear career path. But the people who make the most meaningful impact aren't the ones who rushed through every milestone. They're the ones who gave themselves permission to grow at their own pace, to change directions when something wasn't right, and to show up authentically even when they felt out of place.

Your detours aren't delays. Your questions aren't weaknesses. Every community is stronger when it includes voices that challenge the status quo and people who dare to be authentically themselves. The moments when you feel most out of place might be precisely the moments when your community needs you most.

You don't have to transform yourself to deserve a seat at the table. Your seat is already there, and your journey to it — however winding — is exactly right.

Dr. Kevin McDonald, Vice President for

Community Engagement and Equal

Opportunity, University of Virginia

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