On December 13, 2018, I graduated from the University of Houston’s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a minor in Psychology! I received the honor of holding the banner and representing the chemistry department since I was the top student in the graduating class. It was unexpected, but I was proud of myself, as it was the culmination of all my work in the past 4.5 years. I was also surprised to learn that I achieved University Honors status, since I didn’t keep track of my Honors status. I also earned an silver honor cord for being an RA.
November went by quickly since I focused on finishing third round of midterms strong and preparing for finals. Unfortunately I did not dedicate as much time in the lab in November as I did in September and October. I was also sick for half of November and maintained a post-viral cough through my graduation, but I am slowly recovering. It’s not ideal to be sick through finals season of my senior year, but I powered through and passed all my classes!
I spent most of the semester reflecting on my college experience. While I accomplished a lot in undergrad, such as creating NMO, being an RA, and doing academic research, I often struggled academically and personally. It took me nearly three years to realize I was in the wrong major, after a serious toll on my mental health. I let my grades, other people’s opinions and my own emotions dictate my self worth. When I reached my lowest point, I changed many parts of my life, including my mentality. I was more than a number. People’s opinions are not always in my best interest. Feelings are not reality.
Progress was not and is never instant. I couldn’t see it the day of, or the day after, but because I actively and consistently chose to be mindful of my thoughts and actions, I see a transformation today. No one reaches these milestones alone, and I am grateful every day to everyone who helped me in the last four and a half years.
As I was crossing the stage and shook hands with a member of the Board of Regents, he asked me to bend down to read my cap. The cap contains a quote in French – “Plus est en vous” – which translates to “There is more in you.” I heard this quote from Season 2, Episode 9 of The Crown, Paterfamilias. It stuck to me because it reminded me to recognize my own inner strength. Sometimes I get caught up in the difficulty of things and forget how resilient I am.
I packed up all my belongings from the dorm to move back home. On the way home, I stopped by a bakery to pick up some pastries. The interior design was aesthetically pleasing, so I thought it would be a cute place to study, but I remembered I don’t need to study for classes any time soon. It’s a relief to not have to return to school in January, but it is also daunting as I venture into new territory and a new chapter of my life.
I’m taking three weeks off before starting work to decompress, reflect, and figure out my goals for 2019 and beyond. I’ll be working as a lab tech at a chemical company, so I hope to learn more about analytical chemistry and industrial research and development. For now, I’ll enjoy spending my days in PJs, working on my 2019 bullet journal, and playing piano/violin again!
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