Everyone around you always knew you were destined for greatness. Your grandmother spoke it over your life before you entered the world. Your mother reassured you of it every night before bed. Your father reminded you of the fact every time you strayed from the path. Why did you refuse to believe that your aura shines from within, the very essence of your being? It’s always been obvious to everyone around you. You can see it in this picture.
It took you a while to realize it yourself. In fact, you convinced yourself of the opposite for most of your adolescence and teenage years. You convinced yourself that you had to be small to not be seen. You were scared of the attention that your presence has always demanded, so you shrunk yourself to fit their expectations. You were afraid of your eminent success and paramount presence. You didn’t know how to handle your greatness so you convinced yourself that it didn’t exist.
I want to let you know that I am beyond proud of you and the change that you have made in accepting yourself. Deciding to transfer in the middle of your college experience was a difficult decision to make. But it was a decision that you made rooted in the belief that you were destined for greatness. It took an obscene amount of courage to realize that you were bigger than Southern University. It challenged all your beliefs in humility, hunger, and resilience- teaching you that there is nothing prideful or selfish about choosing what is best for your future.
I am most proud of you for how you handled this great transition. You came to Howard University with a newfound confidence, rooted in the humility and tenacity instilled in you as a child. You turn every loss into a lesson and handle failure with the uppermost grace. You seize every opportunity that comes your way, opening doors for yourself and holding them open for those behind you. CNN Intern, Special Projects Director, 1619:The College Edition, SavagexFenty Brand Ambassador, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc… the list goes on and the resume is long! You didn’t come to Howard with a plan to do all these things. You arrived in Washington, D.C. with a vision of greatness for your life and faith in God that he would make it happen! Now that is something to cheer to the heavens about and your greatest accomplishment. As you embark on your final year of college, give yourself grace for the setbacks, slip-ups, and shenanigans you endure. Remember that your path was made for you, and is not meant to be compared to another. Keep the faith, head held high to the finish.