I thought I knew everything when I first came to Sacred Heart.
I believed I knew who I was, what I wanted, and where I was heading. I thought of a straight road where every step made sense, every chance led to the next, and everything went precisely as I wanted it to.
But, it didn’t.
And yet, that’s what made these four years important.
There wasn’t an easy path to get through college. There were times when nothing felt safe, and things were always changing. Things didn’t always go as planned. Sometimes possibilities fell through, plans changed, and I had to start all over again without knowing what would happen next. Those moments were hard to deal with, and they were frustrating at times.
But they made me grow.
I realized how to change my goals when things didn’t go as planned. I learnt how to stand up for myself, even when it was hard. I discovered that confidence isn’t something you either have or don’t have. It’s something you build over time by making mistakes and not giving up.
I never thought that growth would happen in some of those areas. I learnt that being responsible isn’t only about doing your own work, it’s also about being there for others, even when it’s simpler not to. It means having boundaries, holding people accountable, and still being someone they can turn to for help. It taught me how to be patient, how to talk to people, and how to lead in a way that builds structure instead of putting pressure on them.
I learned things about myself that I had never known before outside of those roles. I learnt how to take risks, go after chances that were out of reach, and put myself out there. I got more self-sufficient, stronger, and surer of the kind of life I want to establish, even though I’m still not sure what it looks like.
People kept reminding me why it was important through all of it. The late-night conversations, the small wins, the moments when everything felt like it was finally coming together. Those are the things I will carry with me.
As graduation gets closer, it feels like you must have everything planned out. To know what to do, how to do it, and what to do next. But these four years have taught me that having all the answers doesn’t help you grow. It comes from knowing how to keep going when you don’t.
I might not be leaving Sacred Heart as the person I thought I would be.
But I’m leaving as a stronger, more motivated, and more prepared person for whatever comes next.
And that’s more important.
