I still remember the nights in second grade when I was sitting at the dinner table, breaking down into tears over the fact that I couldn’t remember long division from the top of my head and couldn’t understand basic word problems, no matter how hard I tried.

There were the afternoons spent in my math foundations class in middle school, doing useless worksheets and activities that were meant to help me get a grasp on math, but actually left me despising school because I was getting bullied by other students who threw my textbooks across the room.

With an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) in high school, I was finally able to feel like I “fit in” in a classroom for the first time in my life, and I took several AP and honors classes to tell other students that despite having Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NVLD), I was capable of being in the same classes as some of my peers who thought they were destined to go to Harvard.

Did some of these things cause me to have imposter syndrome? Yes. Did it discourage me from advancing my education beyond what I considered to be impossible? Absolutely not.

In fact, I am actually graduating in several weeks with my Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations and Strategic Communication, along with a minor in Digital Media Production.

The journey to get to this point hasn’t always been easy. During the college application process, my senior year of high school, my friends and I were talking about what schools we were applying to and I mentioned that I applied to Oakland and that it was my top choice because I loved the campus. One person in particular told me that it was ridiculous that I was applying to a commuter school, and that they couldn’t find the appeal because they were applying to several Big 10 schools.

Even though my gut told me that I made the right decision, it wasn’t always pretty. Several weeks before moving into my freshman dorm, my parents moved out of my childhood home and settled in a new town, away from everything I had known for the first 18 years of my life. In fact, I cried the first two months of my freshman year before settling into a new routine.

That new routine has changed since freshman year, but many of the patterns remain the same. My routine has consisted of working at several on-campus jobs or internships, hanging out with friends in the Oakland Center, attending student org events around the campus, and many, many late nights spent completing final papers, group projects and final exams.

This schedule has helped me maintain a support system of professors, colleagues, and friends that I’ll continue to lean on for the rest of my life. This team became my home away from home. They are people I could talk to about whatever was going on in my life without judgment and I knew they would be there for me no matter what.

Whether it was complaining about a difficult group project or talking about my late Uncle Tim — who unexpectedly passed away last year — these people listened and gave me the motivation to continue taking on all the opportunities I could during my time here at Oakland, especially within the past year.

With graduation just around the corner, I’m feeling all sorts of different emotions. There have been days when I’ve cried about leaving this amazing school, the amazing friends that I’ve made and what the future holds. Other days, I find myself wishing that I could be handed the diploma tomorrow. In musical terms, it’s like my Spotify playlist shuffling between Sabrina Carpenter’s “Don’t Smile” and then Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” — which actually happened recently.

But one thing remains the same, and it’s that I’m beyond grateful for the experience I had. Even with all the late nights spent on schoolwork or campus functions and even a temporary shutdown last semester, I would do most of it all over again if I could.

To Oakland, thank you for giving me the confidence to make me realize that I can, in fact, do the hard things. The professors and staff I worked with gave me an amazing support cushion that allowed me to be the most successful version of myself, letting me pursue my passions while also giving me the confidence to say that I am, in fact, capable of pursuing a career in public relations. Without your belief in me, I would not be standing here today writing this article.

To my friends and mentors, both at OU and not at OU, thank you for also being there for me, no matter what the situation or topic was. Whether it was late-night TikTok spams, SPB field trips or just eating lunch in the Oakland Center, all of you helped me learn that it’s okay to have fun once in a while. I hope that these friendships last, and that I can continue to maintain a sense of fun in the future despite transitioning into the working world in the near future.

To my immediate family, my mom, my dad, and my sibling G, thank you for being the best cheerleaders that I know I can always rely on. Whether it was assisting me with my papers, editing my resume and cover letter, or just being a shoulder to rely on, all of your support over the years has also helped me grow as a person and get to this pivotal moment in my life. If it weren’t for all of you continuing to cheer me on when I was younger, I would not be at this point today, where I can proudly say that I am going to be a college student — and graduate — in just a few short weeks.

To the people who doubted my abilities over the years and questioned whether or not I was capable of greater things, I want to also say thank you. Not because of insecurities or a lack of confidence, but those feelings of intimidation and imposter syndrome actually caused me to be the best version of myself that everyone gets to see daily in some way or another. These hardships made me realize that I can, in fact, do the hard things when people tell me otherwise.

To me, I don’t see this moment in my life as a goodbye. Rather, it’s a see-you-later moment. As an alumnus, I know I will still maintain a connection with Oakland University. This place has given me the skills that will continue to keep me grounded, even as the world around me continues to evolve. I don’t take any of it for granted.

I also hope that other students who face the same struggles also feel a sense of accomplishment, because getting a college degree — no matter what level — is a moment that should not be downplayed. Instead, celebrate that you persevered through it all, and use that same energy to bring into your post-grad life. No matter where you end up, always celebrate the accomplishments and let it allow you to move forward in the next chapter of your life.