One More Light

In June 2016 i very distinctly remember walking up the drive way after another excruciating day of school. My hair was matted from not having the energy to brush my own hair,my stomach felt empty and barren from weeks of not eating. I had never felt more hollow and tired than i had in that past year. The sun beat down on my face and it warmed my cold and aching body. I thought to myself "i will never let anyone else feel this way." I have no shining trophy sitting on my shelf. I have no talents to show for but my passion is simple. I will never let another person feel like they are navigating this world alone.

Some people were born into this world already destined and singled for their purpose in this life. If you're anything like me sometimes you will feel like you were born a rain cloud. Always feeling more rain than shine. I have spent the better part of my life even now at the age of 22 fighting things nobody likes to speak about such as depression,lack of identity, and suicidal thoughts.. while these are all scary subjects and i often felt angry with myself for feeling these things i have discovered something i wish i could have told my younger self. People like me are the ones who shine the brightest.

Society often overlooks mental health but for those struggling with it you know it is a constant war within yourself. Your brain is your own worst enemy. While my voice may be small i know it will grow louder and louder and i will not be ignored. I speak for the people struggling and love the ones who feel lost and broken.I advocate for affordable and new mental health resources and provide those who need it with a platform so they may never face this alone.

As early as the age of 10 i remember asking myself why i was here and why i had gone through all the traumatic events i had. A child questioning their very existence. Today i realize how common it is and how serious the issue is at hand. Nearly 1 and 5 adults are suffering from a mental illness. 264 million adults are currently experiencing depression. 1 and 5 adults cannot afford the mental healthcare services they need.

As a human being we should have the right to live happy and healthy. Instead, mental health is a privilege that is bought rather than provided. One day i hope to go to school to become a therapist so that i may help the overwhelming amount of people that are overlooked. Currently i run a social media platform with resources such as a support wall where people can reach out if they are in need of help,mental health resources and links, a motivation section where members can get the extra support they do not often get and so much more. I also have been currently reaching out to state representatives and larger public figures seeking support for affordable healthcare. While this may be a baby step in the right direction i know one day it will make a difference. I will pour my heart and soul into making a change.

-As a human being we have the right to be happy and healthy.

If you never have experienced depression or a mental illness words will never be enough to explain it to you. Every day is agonizing,tedious,and tiresome. You fight battles with yourself and come out battered and bruised and somehow most of us will still come out with a smile on our face and ask the next person "how can i help you today?" In the past i would look at myself in such a negative mindset because of the things i have experienced until i met others like me. Today i see the "broken" are the most beautifully put together people you will ever meet. They are selfless individuals who often exude more love than they have left to give.

-No more suffering in silence

While my passion may be unusual compared to others and the time and experiences i have had whilst getting to this point may not have always been ones i would like to remember i hope it is the most meaningful. The challenges i have faced have made me into the woman i am today and i can be thankful for that. I hope my passion will shine a different kind of light into the world, one that will brighten others so that the darkness we feel will be nothing more than a shadow.