Junior year is now coming to an end and I feel like this is a time to reflect. There have been good and bad times at MSA but it was a growing and learning period. I hope that all of you take the time to reflect on this year and even address something to your senior self.
To the Carter of next year,
I hope this finds you well, dude. This is it. You’ve made it. You’re about to start your senior year and we both know that’s something you’re reluctant to do. I think you’ve got it, though. There’s been a lot of change with us this junior year. You’ve found out so much about yourself that you never knew. You’ve grown. I remember saying that I wanted to find myself and learn things that I never knew about myself. Well, guess what. I did. You did. Isn’t that wild? It’s even crazier because this is just the beginning. There is so much more to explore and find out and it seems like there’s not enough time to do so. I just wanna say this: make time. Make time to figure yourself out, please. For us. I honestly just wanna thank you for sticking with this school through the highs and lows. There were times back home when you were discouraged to even apply for this school. People told you that you weren’t gonna go anywhere or that it’d be hilarious if you tried this hard and still didn’t get in. Well, guess what. We got in. And, yeah, there were times you wanted to give up and quit. Your mental health got bad and you pushed so many people away. You even hurt people without even meaning to – but you made amends. You made amends and you got your crap together and said that you wouldn’t quit. Keep it together. Don’t quit. No matter what, you cannot quit. Don’t let anyone deter you from what you want to do. Don’t you dare let anyone get you to stop what you’re doing. You’ve worked so hard for this. Too hard, I might add. You’ve worked too hard to get where you are today. You may come back to MSA a different person but don’t let your goals waver. Only make them greater. It may get hard but you’ve gotta fight those hardships. Please, don’t be scared. This year will bring you happiness and success. You’ve just gotta claim it as ma would say. You got this.
– Imani Skipwith-Carter
You truly got this b.
I commend you for writing this to yourself. You’re going to be okay. We’re all in this together.