I sometimes wondered if people thought I got there because of affirmative action. It was a shadow that students like me couldn’t shake, whether those doubts came from the outside or inside our own minds.

So (s)he had that "shadow" hanging over her, even though she got into the school on her own merit. The implication of that is that AA students would always have that sense of "Imposter Syndrome" and that somehow, this was acceptable and something to promote for others?

"You know you don't belong here. We know you don't belong here. But even if it's causing you some psychological damage (which you'll probably carry throughout your career), you should still do it because...it makes some people (us) look kind and non-racist. And that's the most important thing."