WCU IYRT executive board

Photography by Carter Fennen, Chapter Photographer

 If you’re reading this, we are here for you.

At our recent meeting, our executive board joined forces to create some end of semester encouragement for you.

If you’re reading this, your potential is wider than a grade. 

The weeks closest to Thanksgiving are always the most lonely – there’s nothing more you want than to just be home, with your family. I’m in my senior year and the same feeling still lingers from my freshman year. It is entirely common to feel like you are merely trudging through the semester, but know that your support systems are still around no matter the holiday, no matter the time of year. 

The looming finals week makes imposter syndrome more prominent than ever. But know, you are exactly where you need to be, even if it does not feel that way. You are more than a grade, you are more than your classroom performance, you, as a person, hold so much value.

– Liv, Chapter President

If you’re reading this, remember you don’t have to carry the world to prove your strength. 

If you’re like me and have spent a lot of time trying to be strong for everyone else and carrying the weight of problems that were never yours to solve, let me tell you that your empathy is a gift. But that doesn’t mean you have to hold everything on your shoulders. 

It’s okay to care deeply without losing yourself in other people's storms. So take a step back, breathe, and protect your own mind and heart. You’re not selfish for choosing balance. You can support others while still honoring your own boundaries and mental health. 

So focus on your own path. You are allowed to take up space. You are allowed to rest. You are allowed to put yourself first. And if you forget, read this again and remember you deserve the same empathy and care that you give out to everyone else. 

– Carly, Chapter Vice President

If you’re reading this, don’t underestimate the power of the small wins every day. 

Small wins add up—they quietly build your strength, resilience, and even your joy. Waking up in the morning, making your bed, getting dressed, and showing up to class are all small wins. Going to the gym, completing an assignment, complimenting someone, or simply making time for yourself are small wins too. There have been days when I could only manage one assignment, and that one step forward reminded me that progress is still progress. Some days, surviving is a win in itself, and that’s okay. These moments matter, even if they feel small or invisible. 

Celebrate the little victories. Allow yourself rest, patience, and recognition. You don’t need to complete something monumental to be proud of yourself. Simply being here, simply showing up, is enough. Every small win, every tiny step forward, adds up to the life you are building. You are enough, and you are doing more than you realize. Be proud of yourself, just as I’m proud of you :)

– Nawal, Chapter Secretary

If you’re reading this, you can always try again tomorrow. 

Sometimes you don’t have the energy or time to get done what you need to, and that’s okay. You can always take care of what you need to the next day. Take a break. Take a rest. Sleep on it. Then try again when you have the energy and ability to get the job done. No one will judge you for taking your time and prioritizing yourself. Your health, both physical and mental, is the most important part of you. So take care of yourself. You are seen. You are heard. You are loved. 

– Ethan, Chapter Treasurer

If you're reading this, you deserve to know that it's okay not to have your whole life figured out yet. 

As college students, we often feel immense pressure to have a strict, detailed plan for our future, but it is crucial to allow for flexibility. Be intentional about the goals you set and committed to following them, but don't let rigid expectations prevent you from exploring new passions. Your identity and your dreams are meant to shift and grow, so give yourself time to evolve with the knowledge and experiences you gain. Remember, your future is not a fixed destination but a path for you to discover by moving forward each day. 

– Carter, Chapter Photographer

If you’re reading this, you don’t have to have everything figured out. 

You don't have to know where you'll be or what you’re doing in 20 years. Believe me, I know the not knowing is stressful. I’m a huge planner. I have excel spreadsheets for everything. I thought I had it all figured it out, until I didn’t. I had a mid college crisis where I realized I had no idea what I am doing with my life, with my degree. I really struggled with that. I started talking with professionals in my field, and adults in general. They are over 30 and they still don’t have everything figured out. Yet, they are thriving. They have successful careers, wonderful families, and many life experiences. 

As scary as it may seem, just keep going. I promise you are not behind. You are exactly where you need to be for right now. No person goes through life the same, and there is no wrong way to live. Do and plan for what you can right now, and the rest will follow in time.

– Bree, Chapter Editor

If you're reading this, don't be afraid of change. 

Don’t let the fear paralyze you because every shift, big or small, is an open door to a new or stronger skill, a better version of yourself, or a path you didn't even know existed. The best growth happens outside of your comfort zone.

– Liz, Chapter Editor

If you’re reading this, it will get done. 

At this time in the semester, the amount of work that needs to be done seems paralyzing. Papers pile on top of exams, and due dates just appear to blend into one another. The sun will rise, the sun will set, you will work, and work, and work…but there always seems to be one more assignment that needs to get done. Let me assure you, it will get done. It’s okay to be overwhelmed, but don’t let it freeze you up. Start small. Allow yourself to ask for help. Take breaks. Breathe. You’ve done it before, and you can do it again. You’ve succeeded before, and will succeed again. You will get it done. 

– Grace, Marketing Director

If you’re reading this, it's okay if your journey doesn't look like anyone else's. 

There is no standard timeline for success, growth, or happiness. Trust your timing, trust your intuition, and remember that moving forward at your own pace is not falling behind. You are exactly where you need to be to learn the next thing. You got this! 

– Meredith, Marketing Director

In the tail end of the semester, know that we are here for you. Take these messages into the last weeks of the year. You can do this!

IYRT Executive Board, West Chester University

Connect With Us

To follow IfYoureReadingThis at West Chester University on Instagram, get in touch with our chapter, and learn about more resources available to West Cherster 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.