A few days ago, while doing one of my favorite things—sorting through and letting go of old things—I stumbled upon something extraordinary. Tucked away for decades, I found these three letters of recommendation written about me when I was just a teenager. I hadn’t looked at them in years, but I must have kept them all this time for a reason. Reading these letters brought me to tears. These words—so insightful, so kind—revealed how deeply others saw me, even when I couldn’t fully see myself. They saw the values, the passion, and the potential in me that would shape everything I stand for today. It’s remarkable to realize that they could see who I was destined to become long before I could. Here are a few excerpts that truly struck my heart:
Conversations with her reveal a deep commitment to social justice and fair play.
But beyond her success in academics lies success as a human being, as one who not only cares about people, but acts to show that caring. In a quiet, thoughtful manner, she gives of herself so that others may better understand. Because of her, the students in my African Studies course were able to have open, honest discussions about the feelings of pride that face racial prejudice in Westport, Connecticut, in 1985. Because of her, they no longer pretend that the world is totally just and perfect, and hopefully they, too, will act to do something about it.
This responsibility is a challenging one because it involves leadership among her peers, and she carries it out magnificently! Because of her competence, confidence, and good nature, Seanne has earned the respect and admiration of those she supervises as well as her supervisors.
These letters are treasures. They remind me that even as I stumbled, unsure of my direction, there were people who believed in me, who saw in me a light I hadn’t yet recognized. I’ve decided to frame them, just like my degrees, because they laid the foundation for all that came after. They remind me of the power of believing in someone—and how transformative it is when others believe in you before you even believe in yourself. To my younger self, and to anyone reading this: You may not see your full potential yet, but trust that others might. Lean into their faith in you. It can be the bridge to seeing it for yourself.
Seanne
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