Dear St. Louis,
I cannot believe it. It feels like just yesterday I landed here for SLU 101; bright-eyed, nervous and traveling alone for the first time. I remember walking through the shiny black arch on Grand Boulevard, completely unaware of how much this city would end up meaning to me. Now, somehow, I am less than a month away from graduating.
Thank you for allowing me to learn how to take risks.
Before college, I was careful to a fault. I wanted to be brave, but I was too scared of messing up. Somewhere along the way, that changed. I am leaving with six more piercings (five of which I did myself in my Reinert dorm room), stories from a night when my good judgment briefly went off-duty and the universe made sure I remembered it and a whole lot of unimaginable plot-twists. You taught me that mistakes do not define me or keep me from living. Taking a risk is a form of growth; whether it pays off or not, there is always a lesson to be learned from it.
Thank you for showing me what it is like to have meaningful friendships and to love wholeheartedly.
To the friends I have made and lost, but especially the ones who have stuck around, I am forever grateful to you. You have each shaped me in ways I will not forget. There are three specific ones I would like to thank: those who have consistently shown up from day one.
To L, my spontaneous buddy, thank you for the late-night talks about life, school and everything in between. Thank you for reminding me that life will always go on and not to take things too seriously.
To E, thank you for teaching me to be unapologetically bold, to love loudly and to reach out even when I do not feel like it. You make me believe in myself and that I can do anything I put my mind to.
To M, thank you for embracing all my weird little quirks and helping me feel okay just being myself. Thank you for teaching me that even when neither of our cups are full, we can still slowly pour to even out our glasses. And thank you for showing me that friendships can survive after graduation.
Having friends like these has shaped my understanding of what it means to be appreciated and supported for who I am. There is no pressure to perform or mask my emotions to have a more palatable personality. I recommend that everyone hold on to those who make you feel that you could overcome any obstacle and celebrate every win.
Thank you for teaching me persistence and failure.
Coming here from Seattle, peers and professors always asked, “Why St. Louis?” My answer was simple: the Medical Scholars Program, my supposed fast track to med school. I thought I had it all figured out. I worked hard to get through classes, volunteering, clubs, hobbies and jobs and felt confident in my leadership skills. It was not easy; there were times I struggled physically, mentally and felt incredibly drained. Learning to take things day by day and ensure I had adequate support was key in getting me to where I am today.
When I did not get into the program’s final stage, I was crushed. But I have never been one to accept defeat easily. A year later, I applied for another early acceptance program, this time at a DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) program, and got in! This alternate route to becoming a physician forced me to let go of what other people might think and just trust my own path. Now, one month from graduation, with a semester off ahead of me and a med school seat waiting (20 minutes from the beach, no less), I can finally breathe. I made it; not the way I planned, but maybe the way I was supposed to.
My family has always talked to me about the importance of having roots, but what St. Louis taught me is that, like a tree’s, mine can keep growing in every direction. This is not an ending; it is just the beginning. I still have so much life to live and so much to learn, but I will always be grateful to St. Louis because that is where the roots of my adult life first took hold.
With Love,
Aayushi