You Belong in Every Room You Enter by Angelica

You Belong in Every Room You Enter by Angelica - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

Dear Angelica of Yesteryear,

I know how often you feel like you’ve slipped into a space you weren’t meant to be in and to feel like one wrong move will expose you. You sit quietly in rooms full of voices, convincing yourself you’re the least qualified to speak. You worry that if you raise your hand, someone will realize you don’t belong. But I’m writing to tell you something your future self knows for certain: You do belong. You always have.

Let me tell you a secret I’ve learned the hard way and its that imposter syndrome is a liar. It whispers in your ear, not because you’re unworthy, but because you are worthy. You feel that uncomfortable tension because you care, because you hold yourself to a high standard, because you’re thoughtful. But caring isn’t the same as being incapable. Doubting your worth doesn’t mean you’re right. In fact, it usually means you’ve already earned your place, and you’re just waiting for someone to hand you permission to believe it. So here’s that permission and coming from me, your older self.

You’ve spent too much time shrinking. You’ve mastered the art of making yourself smaller so others can feel bigger. You wait to be invited, praised, validated before you let yourself be seen. I want and need you to understand that taking up space is not arrogance. Taking up space is your birthright. You come from strength, from resilience, from brilliance woven into your DNA. You carry the dreams of your ancestors, and the world needs your perspective, your voice, your mind. Don’t rob us of it by hiding.

Remember the first time you were in a room where no one looked like you, and you started questioning your value? It won’t be the last. There will be boardrooms, classrooms, conferences, and circles where you’ll feel like a guest instead of the host. But the truth is, your presence expands the room. Your insight makes the conversation richer. Your courage inspires others to show up fully, too. So don’t just enter the room. Own it.

You’ll make mistakes. You’ll have moments when you fumble, when you don’t have the answer, when your confidence wavers. That’s okay. Even the most accomplished people you admire question themselves sometimes. But what separates them isn’t perfection it’s their persistence. They’ve learned to trust their voice even when it trembles. So should you.

You’ve been conditioned to believe that humility means silence, that confidence is arrogance, that certainty is for someone else. But I promise, humility can coexist with boldness. You can be grounded and still speak with power. You can be gracious and still take credit for your success. And you can be uncertain and still show up anyway.

So here’s what I want you to do:

Speak, even if your voice shakes.

Sit at the table like you were always meant to be there.

Raise your hand in the meeting.

Apply for the opportunity that scares you.

Wear the outfit that makes you feel unstoppable.

Correct someone who underestimates you.

Celebrate your wins without downplaying them.

And most importantly believe the people who see your light, especially when you can’t see it yourself.

I know that sometimes you wait for someone to crown you with the title of “enough.” But no title, no degree, no salary will ever silence that voice inside unless you learn to speak over it. And you will. You’ll get stronger. You’ll get tired of shrinking. You’ll realize that the rooms that make you question yourself the most are usually the ones that need you the most. And you’ll learn to walk in, chin up, heart open, ready to be fully seen.

You are not an imposter. You are a pioneer.

So go ahead and take all the space you need. Fill the room. Leave your mark. That’s not too much. That’s exactly what you were born to do.

With love and certainty,