The journey to finding one's place in academia can be complex, especially for Black students navigating Predominantly White institutions (PWIs). My path through higher education--from feeling invisible in some White spaces to discovering true belonging at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU)--illustrates how educational environments shape not just our learning, but our sense of self. Through my personal narrative, I explore how the transition from being unseen and unheard to understood transformed my academic experience and professional growth.