March 6, 2024

Words of Appreciation

What a time to witness greatness as each piece of our puzzle comes together. Our focuses, designs, and creations are budding into form like spring sprawling back home in Seattle. There have been days when I have witnessed thunder and rain, calm, windy nights, and even the dew shining from the early sun, which I call our group dynamics.

Do you all feel what I feel and wonder what I have wondered? Have any of these forms of questions come to your mind?

How does it feel when our professors are satisfied with our work?
When do you stop and realize a time to step back and look at all the work completed? Or how much is left?
Do you feel moments where there should be more to do?
Have you become too fixated?

I realized this after practicing, validating, working, and reworking each section of my deliverables. Julian is right. I am not– we aren’t; our grades don’t just define us. Even though this is a time to understand how this opportunity has shaped me, I would like to open up a different conversation that has been my final thought about this program.

GCIL is just the middle man; we climb the ladder, the next check mark off a long list of goals to complete the greater picture, which means you. Remember that GCIL is you, what you made of it, and what it has made of you. GCIL is the next resume zinger, family campfire stories, and even the tears you try to hide.

So thank you, Andoni, Arielle, Lexi, Phoebe, Lucy, Ridgelly, Casera, Fiona, Yak, Audrey, Monika, Taekyung, Matt, Kiara, Adam, Elena, Quinn, Nana.

Now that this curtain closes amongst us and the red carpet is rolled out for tomorrow’s grand finale, you should all take this time to appreciate yourself. I learned from Navita the other day that you can recognize your achievements and still not take ownership of them. So please take this time through a pat on the back, a simple embrace, or a string of loving words that only you could say to yourself and remember that you have done a good job.

And as always, I must say Thank God, because he has given another day to appreciate my little life.

By Aaliyah