Out of The Comfort Zone
There’s a common perception that Ivy League schools are glamorous social clubs, filled with effortless success and privilege. Let me assure you—it is not the case for most people.
The pressure creeps in slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, until it threatens to undo everything you’ve worked for. I always knew my journey at Columbia SIPA would be challenging, but nothing could have prepared me for what lay ahead. I never expected it to be easy, but this was something else.
The Weight of Expectations
In the beginning, I hid my devastation from my parents, convincing myself that I didn’t belong—that the Admissions Office must have made a mistake when they accepted me as part of the mere 3.4% who got in that year.
I vividly remember confessing to my mother that I felt lost and unworthy. Sharing an alma mater with Nobel Laureates and individuals I deeply admire left me feeling incapable of meeting the demands of such a competitive and prestigious institution. I felt overwhelmed, exhausted, and alone.
It’s astonishing how distorted our self-perception can become when faced with adversity. Each setback intensified my feelings of inadequacy, leading me to question my worth at every turn.
Finding My Way Back
I could write endlessly about those difficult times, but I also want to share how I began to heal.
If there’s one thing I cannot emphasize enough, it’s the importance of taking care of your brain. Mental health care isn’t just about medication or hospitalization. It’s about having a guide when the road ahead feels too dark to navigate. Therapy helped me acknowledge my emotions, confront them, and channel my energy into building on my strengths while addressing my weaknesses.
Rediscovering Love and Connection
One of the most profound lessons I learned was the transformative power of love—not just romantic love, but the love that surrounds us every day. I rediscovered the boundless love of my parents, the joy of conversations with my brother, the warmth of a hug from my favorite uncle, and the comfort of leaning on my cousin. My friends reminded me how to laugh again, even when I thought I had forgotten how.
I want to continue working on myself—through therapy, by letting people love me and loving them back, by stepping out of my cocoon, overcoming my shyness, and opening myself up to new friendships and experiences.
Embracing the Unknown
I leave you with one of my favorite quotes by Neale Donald Walsch:
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
This journey hasn’t been easy, but every challenge has shaped me into who I am today. And while stepping out of my comfort zone has been terrifying, it has also been where my life truly began.