When I was accepted into every college I applied to during high school, I received so many “it’s because you’re Black” comments. Now, I’m applying to MD-PhD programs and getting interview invites from my dream schools, but those comments still linger in the back of my mind.

Young Black scholars: You deserve everything you’ve earned and achieved thus far. I’m proud of you.

Seriously, I can’t express enough gratitude to everyone for the kind comments! Please make sure you continue to affirm those in your immediate sphere of influence as well; it means more than you knowhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙏🏽" title="Folded hands (mittlerer Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Folded hands (mittlerer Hautton)">

Lastly, for anyone dealing with imposter syndrome, I want to share a graphic that helps me. A few years ago, @RuthGotian shared a similar one with my @GatewaysLab cohort, and I think of it often.