Some of you may know that I am receiving my genetic counseling grad school result today, and I got the news this morning: I did not match this cycle (although I will try to participate in the post-match process, so hope is not lost)!

Indeed, the news I have just received was not what I had wanted, but that is okay! Life is unpredictable and the path to success is a complicated one. So many things are out of our control, and the competitive nature of grad programs goes to show how easy it is to compare ourselves to others and wonder what we could have done differently. As social beings, it is easy to fall into the trap of letting others determine our self-worth, and as a soon-to-be-graduated senior, my message to you all is to never let anyone define who you are or your ability to display resilience! Even in times of adversity, I want you to know that you are stronger than you think, and a growth mindset can go a long way. Every time a door closes, another may open just around the corner. That's why I am covering this song performed by Idol’s lovely Abi Carter, as my news today may suggest at first glance that I am not made for genetic counseling, but perhaps given some time to learn and develop, I can achieve my dream someday!