A New Chapter: Lessons I’m Taking With Me After Graduation

Graduation week is here, and it feels like the perfect time to reflect on what this milestone has taught me about trust, timing, and stepping into the next chapter with intention.

In today’s episode, I’m opening up about what earning my Master of Public Health taught me, not just about academics but also about trust, timing, identity, and honoring every chapter we move through.

 In this heartfelt conversation, I share:
 — What I learned on the road to graduation
 — Why life after big milestones can feel both exciting and uncertain
 — How I’m redefining success beyond external achievements
 — A loving reminder to honor your own chapter, wherever you are right now

This isn’t just about finishing school, it’s about becoming.
If you’ve been feeling called to start, build, dream, or grow, this is your reminder that you’re already on the right path.

What chapter are you in right now, and how can you honor it? DM me and let me know! 

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome to Tea with Tanya
• 2:10 Celebrating Graduation Week
• 3:36 Success Beyond the Degree
• 5:00 Life After Big Milestones
• 8:26 Redefining Success on Your Terms
• 13:25 Honoring Your Current Chapter
• 15:34 Episode Closing & Thank You

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to Tea with Tanya. I'm your host, tanya Ambrose, an average millennial navigating life as a maternal health professional, non-profit founder and grad student. Join me in the Tea Tasting Room where we spill the tea on finding balance and promoting positive living while doing it all. Hey friend, welcome back to Tea with Tanya. Thank you for joining me here in the tea tasting room for another week of us sipping and spilling some tea. Honey, okay, today's episode feels extra special, but before I get into it, I hope you have done something for yourself. Let me know what you have done since we last spoke here in the tea tasting room because you had an assignment. So let me know what you have done for yourself within this past week.

Speaker 1: 0:50

For me, it has been a me being knee deep in final, the final, final week of grad school, and I'm going to try not to cry regarding this episode because, child, the feelings are. The feelings are feeling right now. Okay, but for me I have. What have I done? I have gotten a pedicure. I did my nails because you know what. You know why today feels extra special? Because I officially graduate this week. That's supposed to be a drum roll, but, yes, that's why today feels extremely special. That's why I was able to do something for myself the last few days, because it's officially graduation week. The cap, the gown, the proud walk across the stage is all happening this week and, if I'm being honest, I am still taking it all in, to be honest. But today I wanted to sit down with you, my tea tasting room family, and just share some reflections, not just about finishing grad school, but what about this milestone has taught me? About trust, timing, identity that's a big one and stepping into the next chapter with intention. So grab your tea. I've got chamomile and ginger today. Get cozy and let's talk about what it means to honor the moment you're in and dream about what's ahead. All right, all right. Graduation isn't about crossing a stage. It's about crossing into a new version of yourself. At least, that's how I am imagining and I'm thinking about it.

Speaker 1: 2:23

Looking back, I realized this journey wasn't just about earning a master of public health. It was about learning to trust myself when the road got messy. Showing up when I didn't feel ready that was many times okay Building discipline in seasons where motivation wasn't enough and this was a struggle of mine, especially in the first year. But that's what it was about honoring my boundaries and protecting my dreams. Because one thing I did I may have boundary issues in other areas of my life, but when it came to this aspect and just me having to learn at the time, it taught me really how to honor my boundaries and protect my dreams. And then also believing that the version of Tanya I was becoming was worth the effort, even on the hard days. The degree is going to be beautiful, it's beautiful, the photos will be beautiful. Shout out to my girl, valeria the photos don't want to drop this week, my friend, they're going to be beautiful. But, honestly, it's who I had to become to get here. That's the real win. For me, the real success isn't the paper you earn, it's the woman you become in the process. Okay, my friend, that's one of the biggest lessons that I learned.

Speaker 1: 3:38

When I think about the journey, you know what it was about. Honestly, now I have to think about life after big milestones what is next? But here's what no one really talks about throughout this time here. They don't talk about. After you finish a big goal, whether it's graduating, getting a promotion, moving to a new city, you can feel a little bit wobbly. It's like, yeah, I made it, but also wait, what now? Can feel a little bit wobbly. It's like, yeah, I made it, but also, wait, what now? And I'm realizing that. You know that's normal, that is normal. Big milestone, big milestones they mark transitions, not endings.

Speaker 1: 4:15

But I will say this you know it's a bit of a, it's a bittersweet one, because most of my identity was tied to me being a grad student. If I'm being honest, like if you ask me oh yeah, you know, I work full time, I'm a grad student, I have this, I have that. But most of my identity has been tied to grad school, not in a negative way, to be honest. It's just who I became because, again, I had a supportive unit or supportive community within my grad school, on my grad school journey. But I am graduating with a master's in public health and anyone will tell you, okay, when you're thinking about what's next, anyone can tell you that it's a crazy time to be a public health professional for so many reasons because every time you blink, some sort of funding is being cut from the government, some funding is being cut, something is being this, somebody is being fired and at this point, public health is being attacked right now. If I can be honest with you for a quick minute.

Speaker 1: 5:06

So me, while celebrating, while thinking about what's next, my plan, if I can be honest really quickly, my plan was to do what you got to do, get to graduation and you're going to apply to this job, that job, you're going to land your dream job as it relates to you. Know what your concentration was in? And lo and behold, I now live in a country where people don't care. I don't want to say they don't care, but the head of said country, who shall remain nameless, is just just doesn't necessarily have any regard for the feel of public health right now. So we're taking a hit, but you know what, what I've been seeing on my LinkedIn and just with the people who I talk to, we're taking a hit as public health professionals, but it's also a time for us to really double down, get all the strength that we have to keep fighting for the causes that we've been fighting for everything. So, even though we're getting money pulled, somebody's getting fired, showing up to work and can't even use their key card.

Speaker 1: 6:02

Whatever the case may be, it is now an even better time for us for me, as public health professionals, you know for us to really double down and just take charge. Obviously, you know, if you're not like me, you know I'm blessed to have a job while in grad school. Some of my peers are about to graduate and there's a lot of uncertainty, but again, now is the time for us to come together. You know, volunteer, intern, do whatever, whatever the case may be for us to stay afloat, essentially as it relates to where we are currently in the public health climate, you know. So it is normal to think about wait, what do I do now? Because I am even thinking it as somebody who's employed, thankfully. You know what I mean.

Speaker 1: 6:42

But what I am going to be doing, and I want you to do, is just to give I'm giving myself permission to breathe, reflect, dream bigger and trust that I don't have to have every step figured out today. And that's what I want you to take away from this episode as well. Whether you're graduating undergrad, high school, master's, or you're just someone who you may have gotten a promotion or you know things are happening within your environment. You know, just really give yourself permission to breathe, reflect, dream bigger and trust that you don't have to have every step figured out today and that doesn't necessarily go towards me because I'm graduating because there are things that I one thing about me I'm going to breathe. Well, I'm going to breathe a little bit, but I'm going to reflect and I'm going to always have a bigger dream and I'm just going to decide what I can take on today and also understand and remind myself that I don't need to have every step figured out today. And I have to remember I said that today too because, as a nonprofit founder, we're getting ready events, and they're just some things that I understand. You know what, tanya? Take a breath, let's reflect for a little bit. Let's see how we can pivot, what we need to do, because, again it can be, there's always tomorrow.

Speaker 1: 7:41

You know what I mean, because, at the end of the day, life moves in chapters. When one chapter closes, you get to turn the page at your own pace. That's one of the beautiful things about life. When one chapter closes and it's like you know what? What am I going to do next? And I'm stressing and I'm worrying, here's what, my friend you get to turn the page at your own pace. You are allowed to rest at the finish line before you start running toward the next dream. That's it, and that's what I'm embracing as I get ready to take that step across the stage, the day after this episode airs, I have my hooding ceremony, then I have my graduation ceremony. But I want you to know it doesn't matter what you're doing in life, you are allowed to rest at the finish line before you start running toward the next dream, right?

Speaker 1: 8:31

One thing I've learned is this Success isn't about achieving, it's about alignment. Ooh, honey, let me tell you when I honestly had to, you know, came to this realization. Whether it's late or early, I don't, it doesn't even matter but I started realizing that, yeah, everything about it, a girl you know, somebody saying, oh, you do this, you do that. I'm like, yeah, okay, fine, you know. But I had to really dig deep and I realized, you know what success Like? What is success to me? It's not about just the different achievements that you have. It's honestly about alignment. It's about waking up and knowing that you're moving in the direction of who you want to be, not who the world expects you to be.

Speaker 1: 9:14

And I was having a conversation a couple of weeks ago with a friend of mine, someone I hold dear to my heart. I don't know if she's listening to this podcast because she has no choice. But we're just talking about where I am, how I'm feeling, just testing the temperature of where I am as it relates to just school podcast and everything, and one of the questions that she would have asked I had a question or statement are you still not necessarily the exact words, but are you still living or showing up in this world because of maybe your parents may have certain expectations of you, or where you're from, I don't know? I said, girl, I'm not doing that anymore. I said maybe a little bit, but no, I'm doing me, I'm doing what my heart tells me. So, definitely, when I talk about success again, not about the achievement but about the alignment, and it's about knowing you know what you are, moving in the direction of who you want to be, not who the world expects you to be, because that's too much. That's too much trying to live up to everybody's expectations. It's like I can't do it anymore.

Speaker 1: 10:08

For me, success looks like creating impact through my work. It's about honoring my body and my boundaries. It's about building spaces like you know, tea with Tanya and Scrub Life Cares where others feel seen, heard and empowered. It's about it looks like trusting the timing of my dreams, even when the world says move faster. I'm going to repeat this because this last line just really reminded me. For me, success looks like creating impact through my work, honoring my body and my boundaries, building spaces like Tea with Tanya and Scrub Life Case, where others feel seen, heard and empowered, trusting the timing of my dreams, even when the world says move faster, come on just now, move man. I move man. I move faster than I want to move. You understand me and guess what? Guess what, my friend? Success looks different for everyone.

Speaker 1: 11:04

You don't have to follow someone else's timeline. That's a big no-no. We're not doing that. Everything happens. Nothing happens before it's time. First of all, you don't have to achieve everything by a certain age. When I failed at nursing school, I thought I'm like you know. Oh, my goodness, I'm too. I'm so old, I need to be done by this, that. And the third, because I want to be married with kids by a certain age. Nah, we're not doing that, no more. You don't have to achieve everything by a certain age. You could be 45, 51, 75. It doesn't matter.

Speaker 1: 11:31

But also, you get to define success on your terms and you get to change the definition as you grow. Hello, that's what I have done. I no longer look for success or try to match somebody else's success because I don't know what journey they're on, like last week. I mentioned about you know, your path being different than everyone. Someone else's I don't know how, what they did to get there. You know it's like growing up when they say back in Antigua oh, you see somebody have something. Oh, you see somebody have something. You don't know how they got it. So why would you want to be jealous of somebody? You know what I mean. So that's literally a similar mindset. You know you get to decide what. You get to define success on your terms and what that definition looks like as you continue to grow.

Speaker 1: 12:12

The one thing about me you know we're all meant to keep growing and evolving Like me today on this podcast, and me in September is not going to be the same, tanya. So you're going to be with me in my journey as I continue to evolve and I change the definition of who I am and what I want my success to look like, what I want some things to look like within my environment as well. You know what I mean. So, my friend, maybe you're celebrating something big right now too, or maybe you're in a quiet chapter building, healing, resting, re-imagining. Whatever chapter you're in, it matters, it's worthy and it deserves to be honored. You don't have to rush to the next thing and take it from your friend Tanya, because one thing about me I'm going to finish something and then I'm on to the next and then, before you know it, anxiety is high, everything is going haywire because, again, I'm rushing into the next thing. So it doesn't matter what chapter you're in, it matters, it's worthy. But you don't have to rush to the next thing. You don't have to explain why you're moving at your own pace, because I'm done doing that. I can't do it anymore. I don't have the words or the energy. You just have to keep showing up for your life with softness, with strategy and with trust.

Speaker 1: 13:26

Every season you move through is preparing you for what's coming next, and I wholeheartedly believe this because I've been. That's my testimony at this point in time. Every season you move through is preparing you for what's coming next. I want you to write this phrase on a post-it note and stick it on your bathroom mirror. Every season you move through is preparing you for what's coming next. So today I want to leave you with a question what chapter are you in right now and, even more importantly, how can you honor it, my friend? Well, that's your homework. Let me know what chapter are you in right now and how can you honor it, my friend, build, that's your homework. Let me know what chapter are you in right now and how can you honor it. That's very important.

Speaker 1: 14:07

So this week is graduation week for me. This week is a reminder for me, and hopefully for you too, that every step, every delay, every yes, every no, every small beginning, it all matters. You are building something beautiful, even when it doesn't feel big yet. Take it from me, my friend you are becoming someone powerful, even when the work feels invisible. Again, take this from me from my experience you are already enough, even as you grow. So this week, my friend, take a moment to celebrate yourself, where you've been and where you're going, write it down, because you know how I feel about writing things down. Write it down, speak it out loud and share it with a friend and, of course, dm me if you want to. Let's celebrate all of it. Okay, I'll be raising my teacup clink, clink and my graduation cap in honor of you too.

Speaker 1: 15:04

Until next time, my friend, stay whole, stay grounded and sip slow. I will be back to talk about my experience walking across this stage, but thank you, my friend. By the time you listen to this episode, I will be getting ready for my hooding ceremony and for my graduation, and my voice is cracking because, lord, have mercy. It's bittersweet for me, but I love you for listening and I thank you for your support throughout this journey. Again, see you next time in the Tea Tasting Room. Thank you for joining me for another episode of Tea with Tanya. If you liked this episode, be sure to share it with a friend. Don't forget to follow on Instagram at Tea with Tanya Podcast. Be sure to subscribe to the weekly Tea Talk newsletter and, of course, rate on Apple or Spotify and subscribe wherever you listen. See you next time. I love you for listening.