For as long as I can remember, my life has been built around titles. Student. Leader. Intern. Graduate Assistant. President. Every season of my journey came with a new role, a new badge of purpose. For a while, those titles gave me direction. They reminded me I was growing, doing something meaningful, and making progress. But lately, as graduation gets closer and my time with CBESS comes to an end, I have found myself asking a different question. Who am I when the titles are gone?

It is strange to let go of something that has defined so much of your identity. When people ask what I do, I automatically mention school or work. I am realizing how easy it is to confuse what you do with who you are. The truth is, the most important parts of who I am have never been in my titles. They have always been in the way I show up for others, how I lead with heart, and how I keep learning even when no one is watching.

I have learned that purpose is not tied to a position or a line on a résumé. Purpose is something you carry with you. It is in the energy you bring into a room, the kindness you show to others, and the quiet courage it takes to start again. Whether I am a student, a professional, or something in between, I want my purpose to stay rooted in service, community, and authenticity. Those things do not expire when the title does.

Letting go of old titles is not about losing your sense of self. It is about trusting that who you are becoming is bigger than any label you have ever had. Purpose lives within you, and it will follow wherever you go next.

Think about one title you have held that shaped you. What did it teach you about who you are? Share it below or tag someone who helped you find your purpose.