We all want to be great at the things we do, especially on the job or academically. However, the pressures we apply on ourselves to perform can be burdensome and ultimately lead to our failure. It’s important to self reflect on where you are currently and jot down the things you’ve accomplished. This simple task can be a reminder of your continued progress and give you reassurance that things are actually happening. With social media taking over the world, it is so easy to get entangled in the successes of others or the “picture perfect” life displayed on cell phone screens that you lose sight of yourself, your goals, and your visions. This vicious cycle leads to stress and what I like to call ” the pressure of performing.” To everyone else, you want to create an image that says “everything is perfect.” Meanwhile, behind closed doors you are burdened with so much pressure of trying to perform. I challenge you today to focus on your goals (write them out and make it plain), take a break from social media, spend some much needed time with yourself, and begin to journal your thoughts to help navigate you through your journey.

As I concluded my first year as a PhD student, I felt somewhat accomplished but there resided an empty void that was indescribable. Having experienced graduate school once before and now a licensed pharmacist, I never would have thought that this empty feeling would surface. Was it because the expectations of a PhD student was different than a student healthcare professional? Was it the multiple failed experiments? Was it the feeling of being a small fish in a sea of big fish? Or was it the feeling of being one of few black student representatives of the program? I’m sure you can relate to all or some of these questions in some way. Though I haven’t received any revelations that can help me answer all of these questions, I do believe that being uncomfortable can stimulate growth. As I navigate through the journey of obtaining my PhD, I’m hoping that sharing my experiences and being transparent with my vulnerabilities can create a space for other women in STEM, especially women of color, to encourage, motivate, and inspire each other to press forward to the finish line.

It’s not the destination, it’s the journey. — Ralph Waldo Emerson

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