It Takes A Village

There is an African proverb stating, “It takes a village to raise a child”. It’s truly a thought-provoking concept, and one which I think is beautifully true.

These past couple months have been hard for me personally, emotionally and academically. I have felt so lost, so overwhelmed, so disadvantaged, so unsure of what I am really doing. There have been rough all-nighters working on calculus theorems and chemistry post-labs, 13 hour days at the college finishing homework with tutors, living on energy bars and vitamin water for days straight, and I come home and feel deflated. What am I doing?

But these past couple months have been incredibly encouraging for me. Unexpected words of inspiration and support arrive in my inbox, dear friends drive over just to give me a hug, and people go over and above to support me. How wonderful is that? It is when I feel most frustrated and alone, that God continues to place these wonderful people in my life with little messages of, “I believe in you”, “Keep trying”, “You can do this.”

A surprise, "encouragement" email from a college friend who, unbeknownst to me, is a doctor and knows how hard the journey is. An offer to shadow a practicing physician. An old calculus textbook and solutions manual (from ’83!) from a dear math-geek friend so I can practice derivatives more. An incredibly thoughtful and caring friend in Spain who is praying for me. People who don’t have to take the time, but do.

I feel so humbled and blessed to have a “village” of a couple incredible people around me who want and help me to succeed. I couldn’t do this without you.