In 2016 I applied to the University of Pennsylvania for a Masters level dual degree program. I was scared to apply as I carried feelings of self doubt coupled with the fact that it is an Ivy League school. I was in my mid 30s, with a husband, 2 children and a strenous full time job, not to mention an undergraduate GPA under 3.0. Needless to say I was waitlisted, then denied admission and I was beyond upset. I sulked and then moved forward in my regular life, but the denial sparked something within me. I wanted to prove to myself that I could be accepted. I waited a year before reapplying and during that time I bolstered my profile. I added new initiatives to my resume and conquered new projects. I sought out new references and focused my new application on my growth,vulnerability and how I'd be an asset to the program. You know what happened? I got accepted. Making those changes showed me that I can do anything. That failure pushed me to go deeper to prove to myself that I am capable of what I desire.
People put so much emphasis on perfection when thinking about Jada Pinkett-Smith and celebrities/politicians in general. I think about all of the naysayers saying that she can't be an expert on interpersonal relationships or give advice through channels like the Red Table Talk series because of her recent admission of supposed infidelity in her marriage. But she is a human being. That is one thing that has frightened me in all of my professional journeys. People believe that if you fail in one aspect of your life then you don't have the right to give advice to anyone in another area or even in that area of life. It is a perceived notion that you must be perfect all around, have a perfect image everywhere so that you can advise. People are trying to cancel her saying that she can't give anyone advice on anything anymore because of this new revelation. This revelation that is new to us. But who are we really? My question comes in how can people grow if the mistakes they make ...
Comments
Post a Comment