This year, I led with passion and ambition, which has helped me grow more in a year than I ever thought possible. True growth occurs outside of comfort. So, I did not "grow" from my titles of president, ambassador, or pageant contestant. I noticed the most growth from my mentality shift. Black women shoulder a lot and a common coping mechanism to avoid burnout or exhaustion is the "strong, independent woman" archetype. For me, this has always presented itself during times of high stress. I wanted to do everything on my own and would insist that my mental wellbeing was fine. However, the new, heightened responsibilities college presented of not only being a student with extracurricular involvement, but a self-sufficient adult humbled me quickly. My seemingly impenetrable front I tried so hard to maintain was not healthy nor sustainable. 

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I learned that that there is more strength in being vulnerable with people you trust, saying no, sharing the burden, and asking for help when needed. I built the resilience to move forward by taking small steps, like saying no to a request if I already had a lot on my plate or accepting help when offered. Being honest with my friends was a big help as well because they started checking on me more often to make sure I was not regressing. Now, I am at a point where I am still heavily involved with my community, but I am more conscious of prioritizing my wellbeing. I will continue to support my growth by continuing to hold myself accountable and leaning on my support system when necessary.