I am ending Chapter 23 with relentless faith that I am exactly where I need to be.
What if it all works out even better than you imagined? According to online blogs, I will soon be graduating from my early twenties and entering my mid-twenties.
Oh, what a privilege it is to live and age.
I’m entering Chapter 24 with the mantra to work hard & be kind. 23 was challenging mentally—rejection after rejection. 23 was also a blessing. I traveled all over the United States, shadowed and met the most generous humans at USC and Harmony Health, moved to Yaletown, and nurtured my love for writing.
I saw a quote on Kyeisha Laurence’s Instagram page, a Harvard medical student, and I strive to embody it every day.
“Carry yourself in with BIG energy. Walk around and into rooms knowing you have every right to be there. You’re just as good as the person next to you. The imposter syndrome will not defeat you.
You’ve worked hard enough to be standing where you are.
This isn’t about feeding an ego; it’s about taking every opportunity, even if it means you may not be 100% comfortable initially. Stepping up means engaging with new people, visiting new places, and exploring the unknown.
And you know the drill already: nothing changes if nothing changes.”
Wow, that is so powerful. It makes me feel so powerful.
Lessons I learned at 23
- Sunday Funday’s are here to stay. This ritual formed when my best friend and I realized we had gone weeks without seeing one another. Now, every Sunday, we go cold plunge at our local community center, eat all the sandwiches and cannolis our hearts desire, and spend time with friends we love and who love us.
- I will continue to gift handwritten cards to others. It makes me feel grounded and makes others feel recognized.
- To give myself more grace and to speak to myself with love, gentleness, and honesty. As long as I make myself proud, it does not matter what anyone else says.
- When traveling this past year, I made an effort to find local coffee shops and cafes. Trying out chai lattes (my favourite drink ever…) in new cities makes me so incredibly joyful.
- I began sharing the highlights of my day and asking whomever I was with for theirs. This is a tradition I will continue for the rest of my life.
- I love creating content through Instagram reels and writing. It keeps my creativity alive.
- To prioritize moving my body every day. My mental health and future self will thank me. After feeling lethargic and uncomfortable in my skin, I found working out to be the antidote.
- I can and will take up space. This blog is a testament to my commitment to this lesson. Most importantly, I cannot change how others perceive me.
- Be silly. Be Kind. Be Honest. Be YOU!!!
- My challenges are growth opportunities. There is a greater purpose behind the pain. Be courageous.
I now know that 24 is the year I continue to dare greatly and to allow myself to be seen. Thank you so much for supporting me by reading this blog post!
Risha Rohilla 
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