You often hear people say “I wish you growth.” But here is the truth: growth isn’t something anyone can give or define for you. The most important aspect I have learned is that growth is not linear. There is no straight path and no perfect timeline. We are constantly evolving as humans, every single day.
So when someone says “I wish you growth,” I gently remind myself: the version of me from ten years ago, she was already beautifully and wonderfully made, in the image of God.
In May 2015, I held my high school diploma in my hands. I didn’t fully know what was out there, but I was a young lady ready to step into the world. A young lady filled with big dreams in her heart, quiet fears and more questions than I could ever imagine. Now, a full decade later, I realize that growth doesn’t happen all at once, and it never will. It sneaks in through life’s twists, setbacks, wins, and unexpected moments of clarity.
Over these ten years, I have grown into someone who is learning to navigate uncertainty. Someone who has made tremendous mistakes and learned deeply from them. Someone who has changed paths, challenged myself in ways that only God and I may ever fully understand. And I have learned that gratitude for God and my life is non-negotiable.
In these ten years, I have experienced:
- Transitions : in careers, in relationships, in dreams and direction.
- Failures: that felt like I was being crushed but shaped my resilience and perseverance.
- Successes: that have reminded me of what I am capable of even if no one else sees it.
Looking back, I am deeply grateful for the people that supported me, for the challenges that tested me, the setbacks and even for the quiet seasons that did not make sense until much later. Life isn’t always a straight line. That’s what makes it rich, unpredictable, and real.
So here’s to the past ten years:
- To the version of me who was just starting out.
- To the version of me today, who understands that this journey is still unfolding.
I am incredibly proud of how far I have come and that is the most important than any outside validation. I am proud of me and most importantly excited for where I am headed to next even with uncertainty.
If you are reading this and reflecting on your own decade, I hope you are able to take a moment to be proud of yourself, despite the setbacks, the mistakes, the times you felt stuck. Growth doesn’t always look the way we expect it to. But it’s happening and that’s all that matters.
SOooo… the next time someone questions your path, say this in your heart:
I am proud of you.
You’re not the same person you were ten years ago.
And that young lady back then? She was strong and resilient enough to bring you this far.
Vanessa Korboi 