Loss isn’t always loud. Sometimes it looks like a job you didn’t love ending, or a version of yourself you’ve quietly outgrown. Grief and relief can live side by side—and some days, neither will show up the way you expect. This post explores the kind of loss that comes with change, especially for those navigating identity, transition, and relationships across cultures.

Over fifteen years ago, I dropped out of grad school—and it felt like the end. I carried that failure quietly, worried how it would look on my CV, unsure what it meant for my future. It took time—and the support of one friend who simply stayed—for me to understand that some endings are really beginnings. This is a reflection on resilience, self-worth, and the things we carry… and eventually, let go.