"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change." - Buddha
You are a miracle. When is the last time someone told you that? I mean before today, obviously. Well, you are. And before you stop reading for fear that I am about to spend 1,000 or so words proselytizing, I am not. I'm not trying to lure you into a religion or tap into your spirituality or open your third eye. The basis for this is factual. It's science. Of the millions of possible chromosome pairings (8,324,608 to be exact) and over 67 trillion possible genetic combinations from just one couple (shoutout to the google for the stats), the fact that everything came together just right, at just the right time to make you, well, you, is nothing short of miraculous. Whether you are religious or spiritual, agnostic or atheist, it is hard to deny the scientific uniqueness that is your genetic makeup. Take a moment to bask in that. Celebrate it.
"Seeing a miracle will inspire you, but knowing you are a miracle will change you." - Deborah Brodie
"Many people are alive but don't touch the miracle of being alive." - Thich Nhat Hanh
"When you don't know your true value, you see the world through the lens of how you don't measure up." - Cicely Tyson
Some of you have been told that you hit the genetic lottery. While others may not be happy with your genes. You may even have some beef with your chromosomes. It may be that your particular genetic code has made your life more problematic than it could have been. Or you may be convincing yourself that you aren't living up to the genetic legacy of your ancestors. Either way, I feel you. As challenging as it has been, you are still here. Not only that, you are doing you, whatever that looks like. As long as you are not doing yourself harm, keep doing it. Challenge prompts change. That reads trite and maybe I am oversimplifying it, I recognize that. But am I though...? We want you to get to your greatness, wherever that is, whatever that looks like; the best you that you can be until you can be an even better you. The process of improving doesn't stop even amid uncertainty about the destination, you can keep going, one choice at a time, one act at a time, one step at a time along the path of your uniquely miraculous journey.
"It's okay if your personal definition is in a constant state of flux as you navigate the world." - Janet Mock
"Don't sell yourself short. You will meet people along the way who will be lining up to place limits on you. You don't need to beat them to the punch." - Leslie Odom Jr.
"When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another." - Helen Keller
What you may not see is that each and every one of you are setting a precedent. Whether you are the first generation to do what you're doing or the fifth, there is power in that precedent, for you and for others.
Precedentshows possibility.
Possibilityunlocks potential.
Potentialfuels performance.
Performancesets precedent.
Embrace being the precedent for those you know, and for those you may never even meet. We can't wait to see you walking in your purpose and shining a light for others to follow. Believe that you have everything you need within you to get there because you do.
"Never let anyone - any person or any force - dampen, dim or diminish your light." - John Lewis
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." - Albert Einstein
"Don't count the days, make the days count." - Muhammad Ali
What are we asking you to do?
1. Finish STRONG! The semester is almost over, but it isn't over yet. Play through the whistle, run through the tape (or insert your own metaphor here) to set yourself up to start strong in the spring.
2. Be extraordinary. Even if it is in one tiny facet of one particular context, do it. Once you know you can be extraordinary at something, you can be extraordinary at anything.
3. Stop and smell the proverbial roses. No matter what is happening, it is not too much. You can get through it. When the anxiety mounts and the fear creeps in, start with the thing so simple that your body does it all on its own, take a long deep breath. And then find something that brings you joy and appreciate it.
4. Take care of YOU. The world has reopened, but that doesn't mean it feels or is safe. As you move, take care of your whole self in real and tangible ways. If you need help, get help. If you need help finding help, just say something, we are here for you.
5. Take care of your business. You are here to get your degree. Life requires balance for sure but keep the main thing the main thing. You have persevered through the pandemic, campus closure, zoom, all of it. Keep that same energy and get this done. The world needs to see the brilliance you have to offer.
Now go be great!