From The Top Of The First Page

I just wanted to stop and take a moment to look back, because, while tonight has been a wonderful night, it's important for me to pause and remember where I was 2 years ago, arguably one of the lowest points of my life. This period, the end of February 2009, was in so many ways one of the hardest points for me. I lost my job, moved to a new city, broke up with my boyfriend and then lost my grandpa, one of the most important people in my life, all within the span of a few weeks.

Two years later, I write this as proof that there is light on the other side of the tunnel. I still look back on the moment when I met Roy at Caesar's in the pouring rain as one of the turning points -- the first sign of someone offering me a hand to pull me through the darkness. And I'm so grateful for my friends and my family. I know I've put some of them through a lot, but I really appreciate them being there for me and showing me the support and love that they have given.

At the same time though, the thing in the end that is both different and the same is me. I am in some ways the same person that I was. I find "ambitious" is the new "driven," and I'm still that driven/ambitious, bright, talented, smart, caring, passionate individual that I have always been. But my confidence has grown as I've realized that I can be independent. I have planted my feet firmly on the ground and they're not going anywhere. And I have an amazing life that I am thankful for every day that I have worked hard to achieve for myself.

I don't want to jinx anything or put additional pressure on myself to live up to any ideal. However, I do think that there is some truth to the characterization of us as strong Harvard women. We are a particular kind of human being. And we have a strength that sometimes even we forget we possess. Yet at the end of the day, it's that strength that pulls us through. I don't know if I'll ever forget the dark place I was in, but I suppose we all have baggage. I just keep going.