IYRT Exec
Photo provided by the IYRT Exec Team.
If you’re reading this, we hope this feels like a hug.
I’m writing this at 1:11 pm on a Monday. The sun is shining through my curtains, and a group of little kids are playing hopscotch on the sidewalk, their laughter whispering in through the open window. Today, it is November 2nd and I woke up feeling everything. Over this past year, I fell into the trap of an endless cycle of waiting and waiting and waiting, but I found that you cannot wait for everything to be okay to live your life. And it felt like a hundred-pound weight was lifted off my ribcage, and I could finally take a full breath. I felt… happy. But there was a melancholy, even in that. I was terrified to face who I was without the sadness. What was left of me without it?
A lot!! I had become everything I wanted to be as a little girl and almost did not notice. I began congratulating myself when I was always the one who loved more. I made an effort to worry less about what I thought was “meant to happen” for me, and realized that what is meant to find me will: it knows me by name. You cannot hate yourself into a version of you that you will love, and you cannot punish yourself in any way that will unmake the past. I am failing at many things I attempt lately, but I am doing so with a lot of love in my heart. It is a Monday afternoon. I am making pasta while Dancing with the Stars plays in the background, and the smell of fresh laundry lingers in the air. Joy has a habit of returning – it always does. (Eileen)
I just wanted to take a moment to send you a big virtual hug. No matter what you’re going through right now, whether you’re overwhelmed, exhausted, or just not feeling like yourself, please know that you’re not alone. There have been so many times where I’ve had to stop, take a deep breath, and remind myself that it’s okay to slow down. And every single time, things ended up being okay in the end. You don’t have to have it all together every day and it’s okay to rest, to pause, and to give yourself grace. You deserve care and kindness, even on the days you don’t feel your best. So take this as your reminder to breathe, to be gentle with yourself, and to know that I’m here for you cheering you on, always! (Siya)
No matter if it's a rough few days, weeks, or even years, trust me, I've been there. For much of high school, I was just going through the motions, unsure how to handle the pressure and expectations from those around me. But I’ve grown so much through that time, and now, whenever that familiar stress creeps back in, I remind myself that it’s temporary. This too shall pass. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel, and things won’t stay this way forever. Even after a long, cold night, the sun never fails to rise again. And while you’re waiting for the sun to rise, lean on your friends and loved ones and give yourself grace. Your struggles and feelings are valid: acknowledge them, accept them, and do your best to control how you react to them. It’s okay to not know when the sun will rise. Uncertainty is inevitable. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. Talk about how you’re feeling, and don’t be afraid to cry. It’s not about avoiding negative emotions like sadness, it’s about making peace with the fact that there will always be sad moments in life. You can’t appreciate happiness if you don’t know what sadness is like. (Sabrina)
Life has its ups and downs, and that's part of the natural rhythm of the universe. We all face these moments, at different times and with varying intensities, but they affect each of us in their own way. The ups and downs don’t play favorites; they’re unbiased and happen to everyone. I say this to remind you that what you're going through right now is part of the flow of life, even if it feels difficult to accept. I know it wasn't easy for me to accept this truth in the past, and sometimes, it's still hard for me now. But I try to remind myself that my lows were inevitable, because life’s challenges are unpredictable. It can be tough to reach this point of understanding, especially when you're so focused on the struggles you're facing. The feelings you get when dealing with these bad things are normal. At the end of the day, you are human, not a robot – you don’t have an off switch. (Aryan)
When you're going through a hard time, try to remember that no matter what, there is at least one amazing thing to look forward to on the other side (even when it doesn't feel like it). Sometimes even staying afloat can be a struggle, and that's ok. Never be afraid to reach out and ask for help, whether that be going to therapy, getting advice from someone, just being with a friend, or getting an extension for an assignment. Taking time for yourself is especially important during hard parts of your life. When I find myself struggling, I begin to notice and enjoy the little things. Whether that's noticing the smell of grass or the sound of birds on my way to class or enjoying a cup of tea after a long day, I find it helpful to ground myself that way when I'm at my worst. Having time to take care of yourself can feel impossible at GT, but self-care doesn't always have to be an hour-long routine. It can be something as simple as focusing on your breathing on your walks between classes. (Caz)
I want you to know how proud I am of you. Being here, reading this, takes immense strength, especially on the days where thoughts turn heavy, loud, and all-consuming. The courage you’ve shown, both today and in the past, is something most people may never see or give you credit for. But I see it. And I want to give you that credit now. Maybe today felt impossible. Maybe nothing got checked off your mental to-do list. Maybe all you had the energy for was waking up. So let’s count that. You’re here (that’s one). You’re trying (that’s two). You woke up (three). And you made it far enough to read this (four). Those are not four inconsequential things; they’re four proofs of your resilience, even if it doesn’t feel like it. Please give yourself a pat on the back and a well-deserved hug for me. You did it, and I am so proud of you!
For over a year, the only two things I could mark off my checklist were waking up and existing. That was all I had the energy for. Feelings of guilt, incompetence, hopelessness, and failure haunted me. Things as commonplace as resuming the life of a GT student felt like a hopeless dream. But gradually through rest, support, and allowing myself to count those tiny wins, hope began to take the place of hopelessness. As dramatic as it sounds, celebrating those “small” victories reminded me of how strong I truly am, how much I deserve to be here, and how much of my story I still have left to write. And that applies to you too. You’ve gone through things no one should ever have to experience. Yet here you are, surviving, growing, and carrying yourself with so much grace. You deserve applause, compassion, and someone telling you how proud they are of you. So, let me remind you of that: I am always proud of you. I am constantly in awe of you. I am eagerly waiting to see the rest of your story unfold. And I’ll be here cheering you on every step of the way, through every checkmark on your list. (Sumir)
I spent an embarrassingly long time in my bed during my first week of being a college student. I hoped that each time I fell asleep, I’d awaken back at home. Back where my mom waited on me in the living room with RnB on the speakers, where my cat would follow me to the kitchen for early-morning coffee, and where everything was routine. That routine, the familiarity of it all, lasted me all the way from kindergarten to twelfth grade; change was rare, and easily adaptable. It seems that now, however, change has rooted itself into my everyday life. So far, college has felt like a cycle wherein the most innovation I achieve is finding new ways to prove Murphy’s Law everyday. In short: things are hard. Eventually, everyone finds themselves in similar positions at some point or another. If you relate, please know you are not alone. Please understand wholeheartedly that you will never be alone in your struggles. Even when it seems like reaching out is impossible, or when the simplest tasks sit undone for days or weeks at a time. The hardest part is always the first step. Raise your foot, and let the momentum guide you. You’ll be amazed at just how good change can be once you find yourself moving forward. (Ayana)
The IYRT Exec Team, Georgia Tech
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