Faith and Focus

When I was 14, I didn’t want to wake up another day. I felt numb, exhausted, and completely alone. I truly didn’t believe I’d make it to the end of high school, let alone writing something like this. That’s the thing about depression, it messes with your head. It lies. It tells you that there’s no way out. But it’s not true. The only reason I’m still here today is because I asked for help. My parents, my therapist, and my faith held onto me when I couldn’t hold onto myself.
I look back now, and I’m not ashamed of where I’ve been. That dark chapter of my life helped me grow into someone who wants to help others. This blog is part of a Capstone Project for my senior year. Yes, I’m graduating in days from now. This project didn’t just teach me about school and mental health, it taught me about survival, forgiveness, and what it means to keep going when it would be easier to quit. One of the most important things I learned? It really does get better. Maybe not all at once, and maybe not in the way you expect, but it will get better. You can heal. You won’t feel stuck forever.
So if you’re reading this and you feel like giving up, please hear me. You are not alone. There is help. There is hope. And there is a future for you that is so much bigger than what you’re facing right now. Keep going, even when it’s hard. Talk to someone. Don’t be afraid to say, “I’m not okay.” That one sentence could save your life. It saved mine.