#myopendiary

I was cleaning my desk and suddenly got super emotional. I really hate that for me because I can’t control it. It just happens.

I graduated high school in 2010 so graduating with my bachelor's in 2020 wasn’t originally the plan. 🏁

These last 10 years were filled with many highs and many lows. I dropped out of college at 21, had 3 surgeries at MD Anderson before 25, and battled suicidal depression for many years.

If I could deliver a message to myself in my early 20s I’d tell her it’s OK.

It’s OK to fall because you’ll always pick yourself up.

It’s OK to fail because you’ll have way more wins.

It’s OK to be scared, you don’t have to always be strong.

It’s OK to change your mind, to make mistakes, and to feel broken. You can always try again tomorrow.

𝐈’𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡, 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞:

•Magna Cum Laude with a 3.7 GPA 👩🏽‍🎓

•Top 10% of undergraduate students 🤓

•With 4 consecutive Dean’s List awards 🥳

•A member of 4 international honor societies 👩🏽‍💻

Lastly, I’d tell her to trust herself and her decisions, because her faith and consistency has paid off.