A few months ago, one of my fellow graduate students was offered an incredible career-building opportunity. His efforts on a student-led campaign to increase federal funding for basic research had 1 an invitation to speak on a conference panel（专家组）. It would look great on his CV（简历）. I was 2 for him, of course. I had been a（n）3 partner in the campaign. I felt that I deserved the same opportunity. Yet I hadn't been 4, and I wasn't sure why.
Growing up, I had been taught that the way to 5 was to put my head down and work hard. If my work was good enough, it would speak for itself and I would be 6. This, coupled with a natural 7, meant that I 8 worked up the nerve to put myself forward. However, I decided that I need to 9 my life again — by becoming my own big-gest 10.
So, with my 11 beating fast, I asked my colleague to ask the panel organizers to 12 me. My mind flooded with a list of well-practiced 13. Maybe I didn't deserve it. Maybe I was being too 14. But my colleague immediately contacted the organizers, who quickly agreed to 15 me to the panel. I've come to understand that I can't be recognized for my work if I'm invisible. This isn't a revolutionary 16, I know, but as an introvert (内向的人) this is my 17 Mount Qomolangma.
I think advocating for myself will always make me a little 18. But I do plenty of other uncomfortable things to 19 I'm living my best life, like getting flu shots. I suppose I can do the same for my 20.
