Hugs and kisses

Building Resilience through Difficult Times

AkashKurupassery When I first came to Emory, I remember feeling overwhelmed. I had just left my friends, family and the place that I had called home for so many years, only to be thrown into the awkwardness of icebreakers and orientation groups. I remember asking my Orientation Leader how long it took for Emory to feel like a home to her. She answered that it took her time to be comfortable in a new place, but AhmedAljohani

despite my anxiety, I too would eventually find a rich community here that I would be reluctant to leave. Those first few days were terrifying, but I am happy to say that she was right. Emory has become a home for me, and I am delighted that I was able to spend my college experience in an environment that protected me but also challenged me to become the best version of myself.

As a senior who is about to graduate, it is easy for me to view my college experience through a rose-colored lens. As I walk around this campus, I am filled with memories of the past few years, and I am sad that I will have to leave soon. From going on walks in Lullwater Park to having late-night conversations and adventures with friends, I will always treasure these moments that have contributed to making me the person I am today.

That being said, my time at Emory hasn’t been easy. I have struggled to achieve academically, engage myself in my campus involvements and take care of my personal

well-being all at the same time. I have spent many nights, desperate for sleep, finishing up a paper or studying for an exam that I was sure that I would fail. I have spent many days running on auto-pilot just trying to put one foot in front of the other “No matter where my in order to not be overwhelmed by everything path takes me, my time that I have to do. The worst moments are when a crisis is at Emory will always actively happening. It is in those moments that I am carry a special place in overwhelmed by panic and anxiety, and I feel like my heart.” collapsing. But being able to face crises in the protective bubble of Emory has helped make me a more resilient person, and I feel prepared to face and overcome the obstacles that may lie in my path ahead. I love my Emory experience, not because it was perfect, but because it has prepared me for the ups and downs of the real world. I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to attend such a wonderful institution, and for the lessons that it has taught me. No matter where my path takes me, my time at Emory will always carry a special place in my heart.

Akash Kurupassery is from Franklin, Tennessee. He served as the president of the Residence Hall Association and as the president of the 66th College Council. After graduating, he plans to study law at UVA in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Do Not Overplan Your Future

Your future doesn't have to be planned out. We often hear that successful people have it all planned and well thought out every step along their way. We hear that we need to assemble a goal and follow it throughout our college years. While it is true that we need a preliminary plan for our future, focusing on the details is straining and stressful.

My peers seemed to figure out their four years of college life within the first week of school. I felt pressured since despite knowing I wanted to be engulfed in research, I did not know how to reach that goal. I felt how passionate my friends were about their futures, and I strived to match up to their determination without realizing the stress it was causing.

I was scared that my four year plan could go wrong, because life is full of surprises. Nevertheless, my life started to change ever since I started following a specific saying from the previous president of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST): "Don't over-plan your future. Make an initial plan, but focus on excelling at what you're going through. When you do your best, you will find an opportunity."

I started living in the present, focusing on my homework for that specific week and simply asking myself: what do I need to do now to graduate with a good GPA ? After I managed to secure an excellent GPA in my first year, I started thinking about how I could join a research lab. I had always heard that I needed to reach out to ten professors to join their lab, and I should expect rejections. However, I only asked one, and he allowed me to join his lab the summer after my first year. I started focusing on how to succeed in my research, and eventually, with my advisor's help, I got published. Taking my college undergraduate experience step by step has helped me maximize my potential to succeed.

To the students stressed about their future, you will be okay. Live in the present for a while, explore your interests and appreciate what you have done. College is a time to be open to all possibilities, and we will inevitably face hardships and struggle along the way. I'm sure we get frustrated every time we hear the words "unprecedented challenges." However, once you do your best in the present, opportunities will present themselves in front of you.

Ahmed Aljohani is from Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. He served as the co-president for the Emory Muslim Students Association, and was an academic fellow captain for two years. He was awarded the 2022 Rhodes Scholarship. After graduation, he will continue his education in the University of Oxford focusing on marine scientific research.