Sharing the lesson I've gleaned from 2+ weeks of shelter-in-place: learning how to tackle the psychological and emotional toll of COVID-19, what I call, the "ugly reckonings." These equate to the realizations of busying myself so much, that I never truly had to face the person I saw in the mirror. That I didn't have to do the work of accepting her where she is, understanding her needs, and unpacking what's holding her back from the life she wants.
Overcoming
Overcoming Periods of Self Doubt…or How to Win a Fool’s Game
DISCLAIMER: It has come to my attention that some folk believe that I "have it all together." Please accept this disclaimer as my way of saying three things: 1) I am figuring this out (and making this up) right alongside you dear reader; 2) I am not immune to feeling completely lost in tasks that … Continue reading Overcoming Periods of Self Doubt…or How to Win a Fool’s Game
STAY Ready. Don’t GET Ready.
Allow me to provide you with some more spiritually-guided unsolicited advice. If you've interacted with me recently, at some point you may have heard me talking about how I "stay ready, so I never have to get ready." I want to break down what this means to me and why it's been so important in … Continue reading STAY Ready. Don’t GET Ready.
New Year. New Attitude. New ME.
The first day of fall '16 quarter (yesterday September 26, 2016) was a beautiful day on campus. Bright eyed and bushy tailed freshmen and first years hustled and bustled to classes and learned just what a quarter system is all about. I cannot believe that the year has passed by so quickly--though going through it … Continue reading New Year. New Attitude. New ME.
D282: Just Keep Swimming (Recognizing the Strength in Consistency)
Today marks ~3 weeks since I completed my first year of graduate school, putting me an entire academic year closer to earning a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. I wanted to post this on my last day of school since I started blogging on the first dayâbut I was exhausted. I mean completely wiped out. This … Continue reading D282: Just Keep Swimming (Recognizing the Strength in Consistency)
D217: How BeyoncĂ©’s Lemonade Motivated Me to Keep Pushing
I have to be honest: 1) 2016 has already earned its place as the most challenging year of my life  (I can't believe it's only April) and 2) I've never been a die-hard, know all the words, go to all the concerts, BeyoncĂ© fan, and quite frankly I'm still not. But I have the utmost … Continue reading D217: How BeyoncĂ©’s Lemonade Motivated Me to Keep Pushing
D169: Entrepreneurship Will NOT Be My Financial Salvation
I had long cherished the idea of entrepreneurship as a salvation; the thing I was meant to do that would lift me above the discontents of normal life. After industry internships, I longed for the flexibility and autonomy that being my own boss enabled. This past summer, I worked as a Technology Transfer Entrepreneur for … Continue reading D169: Entrepreneurship Will NOT Be My Financial Salvation
D162: Why “Good” is Never Good Enough for a Black Woman.
As a black woman born to poor immigrants, I donât have the luxury of relying on âgood enough,â I know my work is often inspected more critically. Marginalized identities cannot settle for âgood enoughâ because the sad truth isâweâre taught to aim low. Thus, Iâve committed to proofreading and attending every office hour to overcome … Continue reading D162: Why “Good” is Never Good Enough for a Black Woman.
D20: Stay HUNGRY (Not Foolish)!
Confession: I came into grad school with absolutely no funding...not a dime to my name...you could hear echoes in my bank account (if you were small enough to fit inside of it in the first place). Now, my story is not unique by any means. I had heard of all the fairytales about how STEM students … Continue reading D20: Stay HUNGRY (Not Foolish)!
D8: Stanford “Duck” Syndrome (i.e. We Just LOOK Calm)
Important Syndromes to get familiar with as a graduate student should you ever have to diagnose yourself: Barbie (see first post), Impostor, and Duck..."what's 'Duck Syndrome,'" you say? Ever seen a duck floating serenely on the water and wondered how it was able to remain so peaceful? Turns out, that poor little duck is probably … Continue reading D8: Stanford “Duck” Syndrome (i.e. We Just LOOK Calm)
