Pride and humility are a powerful pair, and it’s time we stop shrinking to prove our worth.

There is this weird, unspoken rule floating around campuses, classrooms and late-night study group chats that says if you are proud of something you have done, you must be full of yourself. Pride has somehow become the awkward cousin of arrogance, the one no one wants to acknowledge at the metaphorical family dinner of personality traits. Meanwhile, humility has been typecast as the soft-spoken saint in the corner, constantly apologizing for existing.

Being proud of yourself does not mean you are not humble. These two concepts are not mutually exclusive, and do not live on opposite sides of the moral compass. You can clap for yourself without assuming the world owes you a standing ovation. You can feel good about your achievements and still hold space to learn, grow and recognize others. This is not a breakup story between pride and humility — it is a love story. There is no need to make it a tragic one.

We have been raised in this culture that praises “hard work” but also tells us not to “brag”. It is a confusing cocktail, especially for university students navigating everything from imposter syndrome to exam anxiety. You spend weeks on a project, pour your entire soul into it, submit it with trembling hands — and when you get that high grade on it you downplay it. The reason being that we have been taught that shrinking is somehow virtuous, that making ourselves small is a sign of character. That is self-erasure, not humility.

Humility is powerful, but it has been wildly misunderstood. It does not mean denying your strengths. It means being aware of them while also recognizing they do not make you better than anyone else. It is knowing you crushed that paper because you have been refining your writing for years — and still being open to feedback. It is being proud of how you handled a presentation, and then turning around and cheering on your classmate for theirs. Real humility is not about pretending you are not good at what you do; it is about knowing your worth without needing to shout it over everyone else.

We have got to stop acting like being proud means you have become some egotistical movie villain. You can be proud and still be grounded, celebrating yourself without discrediting others. I would argue that pride rooted in gratitude is one of the most beautiful things we can carry.

University is a weird emotional landscape. You are simultaneously trying to find your identity, understand your limits and prove to the world (and yourself) that you are capable. The problem is, we do not always leave room to feel good about ourselves in that process. If we do, we are afraid someone will think we are “too confident”, like confidence is a currency we are not allowed to spend without permission.

I believe every one of us is allowed to be proud, whether that is loudly, quietly, emotionally, casually or in any other way you deem fit. Whether your accomplishment is academic, personal, social or spiritual, you do not need to water it down to make it palatable for others. You do not need to disguise your light as a flicker so that it does not upset someone else’s darkness. You can be bright, bold and proud while remaining kind.

Think of the people you admire most. The professors who light up when they talk about their research. The friends who hype you up when you achieve something small. The artists, athletes, activists who take pride in what they do say and still uplift others every chance they get. Those people are not cocky. They are proud and humble as well.

We should rewrite the narrative by putting a stop to apologizing for pride. There is no need to twist humility into invisibility. You can be proud of being the first in your family to go to university. You can be proud of finally getting out of bed on the hard days. You can be proud of being published, getting promoted, making a new friend or walking away from a toxic situation. Be proud of your growth and values. Be proud of your weird hobbies, your GPA, your mental health journey, your activism and your art. Whatever it is you have going for you — own it with pride.

Pride is not the opposite of humility, but it is what gives humility its roots. You cannot be truly humble without first understanding your worth. Otherwise, what are you even being humble about?

The next time someone tries to downplay their success in front of you, remind them it is okay to shine. The world does not benefit from people dimming their light. When you yourself feel that little voice telling you not to post about your win or celebrate your progress — tell it to take a seat. You have earned this moment, so be proud and stay grounded. Both concepts can live in harmony. 

Confidence and humility are not opposites — they are powerful allies. Celebrate loudly, love deeply and never apologize for your continuous growth as you navigate through this hectic life journey.