You already have the answers, you just have to listen. Maya D’Alessandro, a 4th-year studying biobehavioral health, has had a lengthy battle with trust and intuition. Her 3rd year came with many setbacks and within the process of finding herself, she lost herself. D’Alessandro is an example to all that progress is not linear and one day, the old version of yourself will be proud you persevered.
A future is easier to plan when you are certain of who’s going to be in it. After D’Alessandro went through a breakup with someone she cared deeply about, she not only lost that relationship, but the paramount relationship as well— the one with herself.
It was difficult to see what my next steps in life were going to be.
Maya D’Alessandro
D’Alessandro disenrolled from classes, not wanting to return to school. Scared of being this new, on-her-own person, she hid from the world, even taking an eight-month social media hiatus.
D’Alessandro often looked in the mirror, staring back at a version of herself she did not recognize and trying to find a response to an unanswered question — who am I?
Even though she had one semester left, she did not want to finish her Penn State journey like this, so instead, she took a trip out West. “After going out West, I started to see how beautiful things are and learned to let go a tiny bit, even though in the moment, things hurt so much,” says D’Alessandro.
Once D’Alessandro found peace in the pain, she found that with this door being closed, many more are about to open.
I knew I needed a change. I was looking for a challenge, something different.
Maya D’Alessandro
Once D’Alessandro returned to school she found a new outlet, something she had never heard of before, until it landed right in front of her—rowing.
D’Alessandro joined the Penn State Women’s Novice Club Crew. She fell in love with her teammates, who were so strong, so full of life. She talks about how amazing it is to be surrounded by such a special group of individuals.
D’Alessandro was slowly, but surely, regaining her spark.
She began working for the university, in the biobehavioral health department. D’Alessandro is a tutor and a mentor, sharing her knowledge in a beautiful way.
I love so much of who I am and what I am now. I always have cared about these things before, but with the wrong perspective, the things that are so simple are overcome with so much negativity.
Maya D’Alessandro
If D’Alessandro had never come back to school, she would’ve never met the people she did and made the relationships she has. Within her final semester, she wanted to make the most of the time she had left, even through the hurt and doubt.
She became the primary chair for crew’s THON board and even got the opportunity to dance 46 hours, for the kids.
It’s not just about coming back stronger, but coming back stronger with knowing that I am still myself, I have the same morals, the same values and that will never change no matter who tries to tear me down.
Maya D’Alessandro
he blog was how do i say it… relevant, finally something that helped me. Thanks
Thanks for putting this together. The practical details were clear and useful, especially for readers comparing different options and planning their next steps. Ref ebdtad.