I never felt I was good at anything in high school; I had no special talents or skills, no specific or niche interests, and all I had were some silly fast-food jobs. Downplaying my own accomplishments made me feel that my options were limited to whatever college would even consider me; reaching for the stars was not even an option, but who knew what this world had in store for me.
When I saw that congratulatory email from Washington University in St. Louis, my heart was overwhelmed yet conflicted. In my mind, I was just another black kid who got lucky, not realizing how amazing I truly was for accomplishing such a feat. There honestly was not much of a celebration. But looking back, I wish I had celebrated! At that time, I was excelling in school, working 2 jobs, balancing an unhappy relationship, a blossoming social life, while also learning to love myself. I never realised how extraordinary that 17-year-old girl really was.
My brother was a Questbridge match for Columbia and encouraged me to apply to some of the specific schools Questbridge partnered with, which is how I came across WashU… truly a blessing in disguise. I am in my second year and have yet to have to worry about how I will pay for school. I have met so many amazing people whom I am honored to call friends, and I have learned to love myself more than ever before. But this has not come with sacrifices.
As much as I have learned to love myself, I have also struggled with navigating my identity, managing breakups (both romantic and platonic), failing tests, losing my room key more times than I can count… haha, and the constant feeling that sometimes I am just not enough. Even with that being said, I learned that college is not just academics; it is a gateway to an unfamiliar reality. One that I am ready to run into with open arms, a full heart, and most of all, the courage to never give up. Hi, my name is Sydney, and this is my first gen story 🙂