I remember my senior year of high school, sitting in my advisors' office and admiring his Master's in counselor education framed on the wall. We discussed my plans after graduation, and I told him that I was thinking of obtaining a bachelor's degree in psychology and later applying to graduate school. He looked at his diploma, back to me, and stated, "Are you sure about that? It's something that is going to be really hard to do". I remember leaving that conversation confused, hurt, and completely misguided. If my counselor doesn't believe in me, how could I believe in myself that I could do it? This conversation stuck with me for 13 years.
One of my favorite quotes from Boy Meets World comes from Mr. Feeny, "If you let people's perceptions of you; dictate your behavior, you will never grow as a person." I'm guilty of being a people-pleaser. I've been so fixated on receiving the approval and acceptance by others; that I am often incapable of validating myself. Despite the comment I received from my advisor and my self-doubts, I pushed forward and applied to graduate school.
When I received that acceptance email, I cried happy tears. I never thought it would be possible for me to get into this program, yet, here I am, now holding a master's degree in public health with a concentration in community health and completing my graduate program with a 3.9 GPA. Within the next few years, I plan on taking the CHES exam to become a certified health education specialist!
My point here is, if I let negative opinions discourage me from pursuing my dreams, then I wouldn't be where I am today. When you stop worrying about what others think and you start putting yourself out there, you end up more comfortable with the uncomfortable.
Go out there and take that risk. You got this. Although, my beliefs shouldn't matter ;)
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