I think that success is subjective. While it may seem that I've had a straightforward, uncomplicated trajectory to where I am now and that I've already made it, the journey has not been that simple, and I honestly haven't accomplished the majority of my goals in life. Up to this point I've often gone with the flow in choosing my experiences and prioritized doing things that I feel will be beneficial to others, particularly those in my community. This remains one of my guiding principles today.
In terms of the ups and downs, I've had low points in my academic career while having wonderful moments in my personal life, the reverse, and periods where everything felt like it was going great or horrible. University at every level is an emotional experience. As I've grown up and reflected on the past, some things that I would consider extremely low moments may just have been inflated by my perception of the situation, being so young, and not having any long-term experiences in a non-academic setting. As I've grown older and been placed in many more serious personal and professional situations, I've realized that it's not the difficult moment itself that is challenging, but the process of dealing with it, moving forward, and maintaining mental resilience through it all. Our life is the creation of our mind. If I could give any advice to my younger self, it would be to protect the thoughts and energy I let into my mind, and prioritize taking care of myself in the present, no matter how focused I am on the future.