Remembering your purpose as a student!
Being a student isn't easy. It's a life of delayed gratification because you have to wait to see the tangible results of months and years of not having a lot of extra money, being on a strict schedule, always needing to become proficient at new material, and always having to juggle a million things at once.
Being a student is even harder when you've got responsibilities outside of school. Maybe, you have family responsibilities or you're working part-time or maybe even full-time to cover living costs and tuition. Maybe, you're dealing with chronic health issues or struggling with trauma or distress.
Whatever your life story, I can confidently say that working towards a degree isn't easy. And yet, here you are! *Insert patting yourself on the back!*
There is a reason and a purpose behind your education. And your purpose is a lot greater than passing your next exam. It's about working towards something that will benefit yourself and others for the rest of your life.
Degrees aren't easy and they aren't obtained overnight and so you've got to develop the grit and determination to persevere. Part of that is remembering why you started so that you have the inspiration to push through when things are at their worst.
Here's the main reasons behind my purpose but I know a lot of this will resonate with you too:
I want the tools to transform myself and others.
Education isn't just about learning to pass the test. It's about learning how to think critically, how to do research, how to express yourself, and how to relate to others. These are skills that nobody can take from you and they'll last you for the remainder of your life. These skills are priceless.
When you know how to think for yourself and you understand how to find reliable information you're not easily duped. When you know how to express yourself and how to relate to others who may be very different from you then you have the power to transform communities.
Always think about your education as extending beyond the university. Only then can you understand it's true reach and magnitude.
I want better life outcomes for myself.
No matter what anybody may tell you, life is a lot easier (safer, profitable, and healthier) when you have a degree. Formal education is and has always been an immense privilege often denied to the poor, people of color, and women, in particular.
My paternal grandfather never knew how to read or write. He spent his life working as a farmer on a small Caribbean island. He never had the opportunity to obtain a formal education but he instilled the importance of education in his children and my father instilled the importance in me.
Educational privilege is real. It's not right and it's not fair, but it exists. As students, it's our job to acknowledge that and put our privilege to good use. We have the power to create more options for our children and future dependents. We have the ability to transform the academy and what's taught and how it's taught. We have the opportunity to advocate for greater inclusion.
When you're educated, you're not only helping yourself. You're putting yourself in the position to help others if you choose to utilize your degrees for the greater good. And I know you will!
I came to slay.
I mainly wanted to write that because I'm seeing Beyoncé live next week (yesss!). But also, Big Freedia's words ring true for me.
This past weekend, I had the honor of volunteering at a local high school to look over personal statements. I was amazed by how the girls latched on to me as an example of working long term towards degrees in order to better yourself and your life outcomes. And I thought to myself: how often do they even see Black PhD students?
Most times, I'm one of the few Black people in a room. Sometimes, I'm one of the youngest people in a room. I'm always standing out one way or another as a minority. And I've come to accept that due to this I always have to be on point. I always have to show out. I always have to slay.
And that's okay, because it will open doors for others. It will give people after me encouragement and the knowledge that they can do it too.
Like me, you're the minority in some way and people are looking at you and they're becoming inspired by what you're doing. There's never a time when nobody is looking and learning from you. Embrace your role as a mentor and realize that you're doing your degree for way more than just yourself.
You're working towards something great that will benefit you for the rest of your life. It's worth the financial woes, the long nights, and the stress even if it doesn't feel like it is today!
Danielle Procope
Founder & Lead Editor of Mertina Writing Services
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