Trinity F.
Photography by Peyton Mears
If you’re reading this, qualification does not equate to perfection.
We can often fall victim to self-sabotage because we assume that we must be the best versions of ourselves to fully receive opportunities that come our way. We may even face the risk of not entering into new opportunities and experiences that will promote our growth and development, due to self-doubt. Throughout my college journey, I’ve come to realize that there will never be a perfect season, time, or version of me that will be fully prepared for me to accomplish my goals.
This semester, I took on the role of president of a campus organization called The Alliance For Black Women. During the first few weeks in this position, I became overwhelmed, feeling as though I was not qualified, feeling like I lacked knowledge to hold this position, and just simply not believing I was capable of running an organization. I even considered stepping down and relinquishing the position due to an unrealistic expectation I placed on myself to know everything prior to stepping in the role.
However, stepping into this very position is what has been instrumental in preparing me for future opportunities and roles. Through this experience, my leadership skills expanded as I have been learning how to manage conflicts effectively, devise quick solutions, and provide support to my executive board if issues arose. I was able to eventually realize that entering into new positions with complete knowledge of everything would leave no room for growth. Placing this expectation on myself would have caused me to get in my own way and would have prevented me from acquiring these skills that are shaping me into who I am today. I am now learning to shift my mindset and understand that qualification does not equate to perfection. Instead of striving for perfection, we should view every opportunity as a chance for us to continue to bloom.
We will all make mistakes at some point, but our mistakes are our biggest blessings, as they serve as major catalysts for our personal growth. A quote that resonates with me by Mastin Kipp says, “Perfectionism is a dream killer, because it’s just fear disguised as trying to do your best”. The desire to be perfect or wait for the perfect moment will always be a hindrance that will try to prevent us from reaching our goals.
Don’t wait for perfect weather to start your journey. There will never be a perfect time for you to enter the race, but while you are running you will be molded into the best version of yourself who is more than capable of achieving greatness. Even though perfection might sound good, your mistakes are what will help you to finish the race!
Trinity F., Florida State University
Connect With Us
To follow IfYoureReadingThis at FSU on Instagram, get in touch with our chapter, and learn about more resources available to FSU students, visit our chapter’s homepage.
AUTHOR CONTACT
This author has opted to allow readers who resonate with their story to contact them. If you would like to speak to the author of this letter about their experience, please use the form below.
