They often say, ""If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans."" Every aspect of my journey so far has “not gone according to plan.”
As a high schooler, I wanted to go to Yale. I was rejected.
After college, I graduated in the midst of a recession and pivoted my career.
After graduate school, I couldn’t find a job in my field for six months in NYC. I returned to education and moved to Texas.
After years in education, I was laid off during the pandemic and pivoted my career back to tech/engineering.
After getting married and turning 30, I thought I’d be a mother. I was not.
Two of the most challenging aspects of the fertility journey are:
Feeling a loss of control.
Comparing yourself to others.
Accepting that your body and reproductive journey are not your fault is crucial. You must also recognize you cannot manage or control every aspect of it. Blood tests, symptoms, and even doctor’s appointments are out of your control. It’s hard to relinquish control, but trust that everything will work out in proper timing.
Comparison is often called the “thief of joy,” but I find it can be inspiring. In this journey, I’ve adopted the mindset that “if it can happen for someone else, it can happen for me too!” I’ve seen people older than me have success and others who didn’t have to try as hard. Conversely, there are probably people thinking the same about me. Comparing journeys can lead to a slippery slope because your journey is unique, and their timing doesn’t dictate yours. It’s hard, it sucks, but I promise you, it will always work out.
As a high schooler, I wanted to go to Yale. Instead, I attended Duke University, had an incredible experience, and met wonderful people.
After college, I graduated in the midst of a recession and pivoted to teaching over 14 years ago. I still keep up with the students I taught.
After graduate school, I couldn’t find a job in my field for six months in NYC. I moved to Texas, traveled the world as a device engineer, and eventually settled in Atlanta.
After years in education, I was laid off during the pandemic and launched a career in Software as a Service (SaaS), making significant strides in my field.
After getting married and turning 30, I thought I’d be a mother. Instead, I’ve evolved into a leader, coaching and supporting families and students navigating their paths to motherhood.
It all works out in the end.