What the Semester Taught Me

Whew. I’m still trying to process it.

After juggling grad school, working in behavioral health, running a whole business, publishing books, designing SEL resources, and surviving off vibes and iced coffee… I just checked my grades.

4.0.

Not a typo. Not an accident. Not a pity pass. A real 4.0 GPA.

Y’all.

This wasn’t just about grades for me. It was about showing up—on the days when my body was tired, my spirit was low, and my to-do list was tap dancing on my last nerve. It was about unlearning perfectionism while still striving for excellence. It was about choosing purpose over pressure.

Let me be real: this semester was hard.
I cried. I doubted myself. I felt discouraged watching other people post big wins while I was just trying to keep my head above water. But something shifted when I stopped chasing aesthetics and started embracing alignment.

I stopped asking “how do I do it all?” and started asking, “what deserves my energy today?”
And sometimes, that answer was rest. Sometimes it was writing. Sometimes it was turning in an assignment with a prayer and a peppermint.

And still—I got a 4.0. Not because I’m superhuman. But because I kept going.

What Helped Me Stay Grounded:

• Late-night pep talks (with myself)
  
  

• A planner full of affirmations and sticky notes
  
  

• Friends who reminded me of my why
  
  

• Letting go of the need to be “on” all the time
  
  

• Prioritizing what mattered, even when it wasn’t pretty
  
  

To every grad student, every tired educator, every overachiever fighting imposter syndrome—I see you.
You don’t have to have it all together to make magic. Sometimes, survival is success.
And other times, success looks like a 4.0 and a little dance in your kitchen.

Whatever it looks like for you—celebrate it.

Because we deserve to clap for ourselves before the world catches on.

With love,
Jasmine Starr
📚 Author. Social Worker. Dream Builder. Academic Weapon in Flats.