04/03/2026
Many first-gen students and professionals I work with carry a quiet pressure to completely their education and career milestones on a very particular timeline.
Complete the degree “on time”�Get the job before graduation. �Publish early and often. �Advance as quickly as possible so I can finally arrive.
These timelines come from institutions and programs that assume a very narrow set of life circumstances.
They assume stable health, good finances, a great network, and the ability and freedom to focus solely on your research and other work above everything else.
But for many of us, our life holds so many more complicated circumstances. We are supporting our family members, have to manage our physical and mental health, and we are working to build community and lift each other up along the way.
This means that we need a completely different type of rhythm and timeline.
I still remember a moment in my own grad school experience the moment when I realized I had fallen behind compared to everyone else in my cohort. It was going to take me an extra year or two than everyone else around me. ��I felt so much shame in that moment.
Had I reframed that moment as needing a different timeline that aligned with my capacity and circustances, I would have given myself permission to release that shame and felt more empowered in owning that timeline. �
So my reminder for you today is that you don’t have to follow a career and life around urgency and a very rigid timeline.
And if you need extra support with figuring that out, please reach out.
[ID: Video of Dra. Yvette with mid length dark brown wavy hair, clear glasses, silver hoop earrings, and a maroon crewneck speaking to the camera on the topic shared above.]
