Wanting to hide where you went to avoid judgment.

WANTING TO HIDE WHERE YOU WENT TO AVOID JUDGMENT.
Follow for more candid reflections on the Ivy experience.

It’s a peculiar truth for many of us, isn't it? The immense pride and relief of gaining admission to an institution held in such high regard, followed by the quiet realization that the very name can become a silent, sometimes heavy, companion. The "Ivy identity" shapes us in profound ways, from the rigorous academics to the network of incredible minds we encounter. But sometimes, that brand feels less like a badge of honor and more like an unspoken assumption, a pre-judgment we carry.

The weight of the brand can manifest in unexpected ways. It's the raised eyebrow, the instant categorization, or the expectation that you must constantly be "on," proving your worth. You might find yourself wanting to downplay your alma mater in casual conversations, not out of shame, but to avoid the immediate labeling. To simply be seen as you, without the filter of others’ perceptions about where you spent four formative years. It's about wanting genuine connection, free from the often-unspoken biases or elevated expectations that accompany such a prestigious affiliation. Our experiences there are invaluable, yet they should never define the totality of who we are or who we are becoming. Our identity is richer, more complex, and far more nuanced than a university name on a diploma.

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