"I do not think that I have imposter syndrome in the sense that I do not belong (even though sometimes I feel that is the case), I have imposter syndrome because I feel like I wasted a year of my graduate school career. Even though many of my classmates are older and we all have different paths that we have walked to get where we are now; however, I feel like mine makes the least amount sense. I personally feel that it discredits my existence in the classroom. 

"As much as I wish I could say I was a Nova or a Charlie, I am Ralph Angel. I am the one who has made the mistakes. I am the one who at some point has put our family dynamic on edge and pushed it out of sync. But also like Ralph, I have made significant changes for the better and my siblings are forcing me into the same box."

"And there is some saying that talks about pressure create diamonds or whatever; however, some pressure bust pipes. High (blood) pressure is not good either. Basically, pressure isn't always good. I am positive that I busted my metaphorical pipes so much so that I laid on the floor of my boyfriend's living room in the fetal position crying. I did not know what else to do. "

"That feeling of being needed is very important. Especially when it comes to relationships of any kind. Internalizing everyone else's issues with me has created this extreme anxiety to where my brain does not turn off. I run through every kind of scenario. And somewhere along the way, I have changed who I am. I have adjusted my ways because I was able to recognize my own faults. And I have had that Effie moment when she is singing I Am Changing."

"I have nonverbal learning disability, reading disability, and a visual processing disorder. Three learning disabilities that all have been shadowing me since I was little and no one believed me when I told them things were too hard. I should not even be in graduate school, I should not have even graduated college. But I did, but all along the way I had begun to internalize all the things I was not good at. I thought something was wrong with me. I thought that I was destined to be another statistic."

"He slept with a gun next to the bed. I hated guns, but the safety was on and I never touched it. Honestly, I don't know why he had one. And looking back, it was actually really scary. I mean who needs a gun next to the bed anyway?!

"

because my anxiety kicks in and leads me down this winding path and I spiral down. Once i reach the end of this path, I find myself in a deep dark hole alone only accompanied by my best friend named depression. And depression, being the amazing friend she is, places her arms around me and cloaks me in overwhelming sadness. This is the place I found myself in today, all before 9am. And somehow I was supposed to make it through the day. (My longest mind you, I have two three-hour classes seemingly back to back) 

"Do not get me wrong, I am absolutely positive that everyone has some type of problem--whether it be physical, emotional, or mental. However, there is not a safe place to discuss those problems that are caused by mental illness. For example, I had a professor ask me "if you have anxiety now, how do you think you will survive a doctoral program?!" I never thought that my general anxiety disorder would be used against me as a barrier from my dreams and aspirations.