Here's what it feels like to first join a group committed to reducing stigma and strengthening youth leaders...
“Mom, do we even know if this event is happening? I mean, I have never met any of these people in my life!” I said to my surprisingly calm mother, as my heart began to beat a little bit faster. She replied, “ Stop worrying! The meeting is still happening. This is the opportunity of a lifetime.” She was right, this was an incredible opportunity. How many sixteen year-olds could say they drove to Harrisburg for a workshop that helped kids dealing with mental illness across the state? My guess was about 5 and a half, but I’ve never been the greatest estimator. After what seemed like an eternity, we arrived at the conference. I walk in, and, like I predicted, I did not recognize a single person in that room. After a few minutes of awkward introductions, everyone sat down in a circle and told, one by one, the group why they were here. Being alone and also the youngest one there, I was naturally very nervous to share my story. But when my time came, I rose to the challenge and shared my personal experience with mental illness. It all started in the beginning of last summer when I started getting anxiety attacks. Unfortunately, as the summer progressed, those anxiety attacks became suicidal thoughts. Thanks to some family support, and the fact that my dad is a psychiatrist, I was able to treatment and get my disorder under control. However, the problems did not stop. During the school year, I developed clinical or chronic depression. It was gut-wrenching, as all the things that were once pleasurable became burdens. At one point, I remember sitting in my room and feeling numb. Almost like nothing mattered. But then, with a combination of antidepressants and resolve, I came out the other side of the tunnel a stronger person. I also realized that I surely cannot be the only kid having the same struggles with mental illness. Thus, I decided that my goal for the rest of high school is to help as many kids dealing with mental illness as possible. Even if it was only one soul, it would be worth it. After weeks of searching for opportunities, my mob connections finally came in handy and I was able to land a seat at the Harrisburg meeting. As I finished up my story, I could not help feeling a bit nervous about how my peers would react. Luckily, they were very hospitable, and after that, these people became some of my closest friends. We shared stories, laughed, and even played some games. Most importantly, however, we all returned to our respective counties with a better strategy to tackle the issue of mental illness. Personally, I decided to start a campaign at my high school to eliminate the stigma that surrounds mental illness. Even if the program taught one person one fact about mental illness, I will have succeeded. Through my experience in that conference room, I have become a much more driven person. I wake up every morning with two goals in mind: find food and improve another person’s life. Additionally, my experiences have made me realized that helping people emotionally is my calling. Although, before the meeting, I felt nervous and unsure, I now feel like my life has a new purpose, and I couldn’t be happier.
