> Congrats! You did it!! Celebrate, if you havenāt already.
> Hereās a secret: you have the same right to be there as everybody else. Imposter syndrome is real, especially when there are few others in your department that look like you. I need you to know that you got where you are out of grit and merit. Regardless of what resources you and your (male, white) classmates had before this point, you are all in the same place, and that is no accident. You are perfectly capable of success, even if someone has the audacity to tell you otherwise.
> Use all the help you can get. I was hesitant to get help or go to study sessions because it made me feel like I wasnāt smart enough to do the work on my own. But hereās another secret: the work is designed for you to need help/ work collaboratively. Email your TA! Go to office hours! Find/start a study group! Text the person who always talks in class (or better yet, set up a group chat). You already paid for these resources, you might as well use them
> Join societies/ clubs for women/women of color. Having women in you corner who get what youāre going through is invaluable. Especially if they are in your field! Listen to what they have to say, because a lot of the advice will be specific and you won't be able to find it elsewhere. Plus, it helps to have a few friendly faces you can be yourself around
> Find your support circle. Not every friend you make will be in that circle, which is fine. Make sure you have a small number of people, both at school and at home, who support you and who you can talk freely with. Understand the difference between casual friends and those in your circle. That way you don't end up oversharing with people who donāt really know you -- and coming away feeling empty/awkward as a result
> Your mental health matters. Take time to process your emotions and seek help as soon as you need it. Psychology Today and Therapy for Black Girls are fantastic places to start looking for a therapist, and Loveland Foundation may be able to help you offset the cost if thatās one of your concerns. Even if youāre not seeking regular counselling, these can be great resources if youāre going through a rough patch. For a free option, look into your schools counselling services! (as a note: most if not all of these services will also offer online telehealth meetings)
> Be patient with yourself. You cannot and should not be at 100% all the time. Thatās ok! Work hard, but play harder. Know when to pause and take breaks to refocus your energy and have fun :)
