I feel proud and relieved to say that I earned my Master’s degree in Communication and Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University. The program gave me so much and exceeded my expectations. However, it wasn’t a smooth-sailing journey. The program was a time-consuming, frustrating, and hard-fought, seven-game series-like battle that physically, mentally, emotionally, and psychologically drained me. It pushed me to my limits, challenging my physical and cognitive abilities and resilience every day. I had to dig deep to stay motivated, passionate, and resilient to maintain a strong work ethic, especially on days when I wanted to give up. I had to fight myself to stay committed and find a desire to push through when I experienced identity crises, advocating for myself when I noticed I was falling behind. It took a lot of grit and perseverance, but I pulled through and found clarity. Intense, structured, and continuous learning, development, growth, and improvement during an almost two-yea...