As I prepare to graduate in two weeks from Skidmore, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons that have shaped me over these past years. My ID card will stop swiping, my routines will dissolve, and I’ll no longer be an undergraduate student. From navigating personal struggles to figuring out my career path and the people I want to surround myself with, these are five lessons I’ve learned:
1. Pausing is part of growth
Taking a semester off for mental health was one of the hardest yet most necessary decisions I’ve made. It wasn’t until near the end of my freshman year that I realized I wasn’t doing well mentally and needed a break. At first, I was scared about pausing, worried about falling behind or losing momentum, but stepping away from campus gave me space to reflect and return with more clarity about who I was and what I truly wanted.
2. Your path doesn’t have to be linear
I didn’t commit to the dance major until the fall of my junior year. My freshman & sophomore friends would tease me about always switching my major & minors between humanities and dance, but that indecision came from past experiences, years of intense, codependent mentorship in high school and uncertainty about whether I could choose something I truly cared about. It took time, and courage, to admit to myself that dance was what I really wanted to do as a career and so it meant that for me personally, I needed to major in it. My path wasn’t perfect, but taking the time to discover and figure out what mattered most made all the difference.
3. Inspiration comes from the right environment
There were moments when I thought about leaving Skidmore because I struggled to find inspiration for dance. After years of intensive, controlling mentorship in high school, suddenly navigating my training independently felt unpredictable and overwhelming. It wasn’t until I attended summer intensives at Broadway Dance Center over the summer surrounded by a supportive, challenging, and loving community that I fully rediscovered my love for dance. These experiences reminded me how much the environment and people around you can affect your energy, creativity, and confidence.
4. Resilience is quiet, but powerful
Surviving difficult days, choosing to stay even when it was hard, and returning to what I cared about taught me that resilience doesn’t have to be dramatic. It shows up in subtle ways: taking time off when needed, trying again after failures and continuing to grow despite uncertainty. These quiet acts of perseverance are just as valuable as any visible success.
5. Not every space or person will feel like home, and that’s okay
Friendships shifted, some deepened, some drifted, and certain spaces didn’t feel that great. In the past, I wondered if something was wrong with me, but I’ve come to realize that nothing is wrong and that it is just apart of life. Not every environment we enter is meant to feel comfortable and you just have to find meaning wherever you can, grow from experiences even when they’re uncomfortable, and know when to let go. Surround yourself with people and spaces that nourish your growth, and don’t be afraid to step back from those that don’t.