As I mark a new age, I imagine what I’d tell myself thirteen years ago at my college graduation. Here goes – today’s a momentous day. She’s beaming, proud, and ready to take the world by storm. She’s weathered some trials during her six years at college, so celebrating the moment surrounded by family and friends is a great highlight. There’s lots of chatter, laughter, and reminiscing about the favorite and not-so-favorite times. At this very moment, she thinks she’s invincible because graduating with a degree in bioinformatics is no small feat.
Despite having a good friend squad, she faced discrimination and chronic self-doubt during her studies. But still, she persevered. So what would I tell this bright-eyed girl on this day? Well, that life will break her heart, worse than she has ever experienced. But she’ll still have fun, and people will show up in unimaginable ways. I don’t want to mince words because I know what’s coming soon. Life, as they say, is never the same for a while. I’ll mention that her future self is wonderfully proud because even as her self-doubt becomes a shadow, she’ll learn to manage it.
I’ll also mention that she’ll lose her faith (she’ll find that shocking) but come to have a “faith that is flexible enough to bend in transition, rather than a faith that is so rigid it breaks.” Because, at this moment, her faith is a bubble, not entirely loving, and not what faith should be. (I can see she’s rolling her eyes). She currently views the world as black and white, and while it has served her at times, it has also been limiting in some areas. She’s not yet aware of this. But as life goes on, she’ll realize it and also learn that life often gives us sweet and ugly surprises.
I’ll tell her she will live a colorful life with ups and downs like a rollercoaster. And she’ll fight life tooth and nail because she wants control. (She disagrees, but I know better) I’m sure, at this point, she thinks I’m nuts, but I’m saying this now because her life is about to change in the next few weeks. And I’ll be here, thirteen years in the future, cheering and urging her to hold on, hoping she embraces the simple moments and being authentically herself. Why? Because authenticity is hard for her, and she’ll learn to sometimes fake it to make it.
Happy graduation day 🎉
Happy 40th birthday 🎉
