"What will your verse be?"

As we finish up our work during this first portion of the quarter and gear up for midterms, I thought a story from NPR might be relevant, helpful, and comforting. Those around us in academia can be a source of inspiration, providing us a model of professionalism that is composed, confident, and something we hope to emulate. However, there may also be times when we feel as though we are impostors, that we do not belong, and that our contributions are not worthy. If our survey of the work in global health teaches us anything, I think it is the opposite: the task is huge, we need all hands on deck, YOU have a valuable, important perspective and we need to hear your voice.
Personal reflection and critique can be a worthwhile practice, but don't let it extend too far into a justification that denies you the space and invitation to participate.

Have you found yourself holding back from participation? You are not alone. Listen to this segment
from NPR. Have you ever felt this way?

It feels remiss not to include this brief poem by Whitman to reiterate the important points from the broadcast.

O ME! O life! O ME! O life!... of the questions of these recurring;
Of the endless trains of the faithless—of cities fill’d with the foolish;
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)
Of eyes that vainly crave the light—of the objects mean—of the struggle ever renew’d;
Of the poor results of all—of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me;	5
Of the empty and useless years of the rest—with the rest me intertwined;
The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?
Answer. That you are here—that life exists, and identity;
That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.