Justine t.
Photography by Cathleen Rabideau
If you’re reading this, the future is bright.
When I first arrived at the University of Florida’s campus as a freshman in August of 2021, I didn’t know who I was. Having seen how COVID-19 spurred fear and hatred towards people who looked like me, I grappled with my complicated identity as a second-generation Filipina American. Additionally, as a premedical student whose passions didn’t quite fit the mold, I wrestled with imposter syndrome and questioned my path. I vividly remember sobbing in my dorm after receiving less-than-ideal scores on my first set of midterm exams, viewing the years ahead with trepidation. I had a general idea of the future I wanted to work towards, but I had no idea how to get there.
But if there’s one thing that can be said about the college experience, it’s that the cliché about time flying is undoubtedly true. The days blurred into weeks, and the weeks into months. And before I knew it, my time as an undergraduate student was over. I graduated this past May, filled with excitement about the future that lay ahead of me. Yet I also took some time to reflect on the past four years, recognizing that—along the way—I had grown in ways that my eighteen-year-old self would be proud of. This shift wasn’t an abrupt 180, and it was far from easy. But figuring out who I am has been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.
The beautiful thing about life is that we are all on the iterative journey of discovering who we are. Our identities are fluid and open to change, and we have a whole lifetime to rediscover ourselves as people. Even so, my college years taught me three lessons that I know I will take with me for the rest of my life.
One: Lean into vulnerability. I know that it’s terrifying to let others in and to disclose ourselves in our entirety to those around us, flaws and all. But have courage. Sit with this discomfort. The willingness to be vulnerable is the only way to form meaningful connections. It’s the key to loving others and experiencing the warmth of being loved in return.
Two: Give yourself grace. It’s okay if you have to make adjustments to the life you once envisioned for yourself. There’s also nothing wrong with realizing that your passions have shifted—or even changed entirely. We learn more about ourselves with each passing day, and each new experience serves to inform the journey ahead.
Three: Sometimes, there isn’t a right or wrong decision. There will be moments when you will find yourself at a crossroads, unsure of which path to take. Let go of the idea of the “right” choice. You’ve gotten yourself this far. Now trust in yourself to make the most out of any of life’s circumstances.
The future ahead is bright and exciting, and I look forward to what’s next for both you and me. But I also encourage you to stop and think about where you started. Acknowledge all of the incremental ways that you’ve grown as a person, and take pride in the small steps you’ve made today towards the life you’re building for yourself. And—most importantly—find that essential balance between working towards your goals and living in the present moment. Learn to enjoy the process of becoming.
Whether or not our paths ever cross, know that I’m cheering you on as you grow into the version of yourself you were always destined to be. I believe in a life more beautiful than you or I can even imagine.
Here’s to what’s next!
Justine T., University of Florida
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