The power of “yet.”

There’s a quiet, persistent magic at UChicago—an alchemy that turns uncertainty into discovery. I first felt it during my first year, in a SOSC class discussion of Nietzsche. After preparing extensively, I mustered the courage to speak, only to watch my argument collapse mid-sentence. Certain I’d proven I wasn’t cut out for this place, I waited for the professor’s verdict. Instead, he said, “You’re not wrong—you’re just not there yet.”

That single word—yet—changed everything. It reminded me that growth isn’t about being flawless on day one; it’s about being willing to struggle and grow. UChicago taught me to sit with my own doubts, keep asking questions, and find beauty in the process of learning. I see it in the late-night debates over coffee, where ideas and laughter collide. I see it in those marathon sessions at the Reg, when you’re sure the answer will never come—until it does, unexpectedly and brilliantly.

This place can knock you off balance, then show you the strength you never knew you had. I arrived here hungry for answers, but what I discovered was even more valuable: the courage to live in the questions. UChicago hasn’t just sharpened my mind; it’s taught me the power of patience and persistence—that real understanding often comes in the messy middle of not knowing.

UChicago is more than a campus; it’s a way of thinking. Here, I learned to embrace that little word—yet—in every challenge I face. And for that, I’m deeply grateful.

Querida Lai (pictured above, center) is a member of the Class of 2027