“Here at Veritas, we expect excellence.”
I still remember hearing those words at the beginning of my journey.
To be honest, they intimidated me.
As I looked around the room, I saw students who seemed smarter, more confident, and more prepared than I was. They spoke with certainty. They asked questions I hadn’t even thought of. They carried themselves like they belonged there.
I wasn’t sure that I did.
There were moments when I felt behind. Moments when I questioned whether I was capable of meeting the standard that Veritas set. Excellence felt like something reserved for everyone else.
But over time, I realized I had misunderstood what those words meant.
Excellence wasn’t perfection.
It wasn’t always having the right answer.
It wasn’t being the smartest person in the room.
Excellence was showing up when the work got difficult. It was being willing to challenge your own ideas. It was having the courage to think deeper, speak up, and grow.