By Irma Peña | LTVN Managing Editor

In my senior year at Baylor, I’ve found myself reflecting more than ever — on everything I’ve learned and still don’t know. Maybe it’s just what happens when graduation starts to feel real. Suddenly, the questions that once felt far away begin closing in.

“What are your plans after graduation?” is a fair question, but one that carries a lot of weight. In college, it often feels like you’re constantly chasing what’s next: the perfect GPA, the dream internship or the job that proves all the hard work was worth it.

There’s this unspoken pressure to always be doing more, achieving more, becoming more.

But somewhere between the deadlines, exams and late-night study sessions, I’ve realized that success doesn’t always look like a milestone or a grand achievement. Sometimes, it shows up in the small, quiet moments. The ones that don’t make it to your LinkedIn, like finishing a tough reading, turning in a project you almost gave up on or simply making it through a hard week.

I used to think progress only mattered when it was visible — when I could show it off, celebrate it or add it to my resume. But I’ve learned that some of the most meaningful victories are the invisible ones. The nights you push through to study a little longer. The moments you choose to rest instead of burn out. Those are the moments that quietly build resilience.

College culture tends to glorify overachievement. We talk about success like it’s a race, comparing our timelines to everyone else’s. It’s easy to scroll through social media and feel like you’re falling behind when someone else gets an internship, a job offer or an award. But comparison only steals joy and distracts us from appreciating how far we’ve come.

It’s important to celebrate the small wins that make the big ones possible. It’s even more essential to recognize that growth doesn’t always look impressive from the outside. Progress isn’t just about crossing the finish line; it’s about every small step that got you there.

Sometimes, the biggest sign of growth is not giving up, like showing up again after a bad grade, trying again after making a mistake or choosing kindness when it would’ve been easier to be harsh on yourself. Those small choices matter. They’re proof that you’re growing — not perfectly, but consistently.

Because those small wins are not just tiny victories, they’re the foundation of everything bigger that’s yet to come.

So here’s a reminder to slow down and celebrate yourself. Celebrate the mornings you have woken up and made it to that 8 a.m. class. Celebrate the moments you decided to keep studying instead of hanging out with your friends on a random Saturday. Celebrate being present, being persistent and being proud of how far you’ve come — even if you’re still figuring out what’s next.