Tell it like it is

In the harshness that life imposes, there is beauty. In the bold desert, a cactus blooms the most unique and incredible flower. Its petals, so delicate and poised in manner, disguise its inner strength. Touch its fineness and you will experience a sharp piercing of emotions. It is untouchable.

The growth and path of a student's life is untouchable. And its blossomed flower, the product of years of various college experiences, holds and shares its story. Here is one such story.

Many of us have walked through college having gone through a major life-changing experience, yet we do not share it because our mind constantly wrestles with questions. "What will others think?" "How will they see me?" "How will this effect the way I am treated?" "Why should I bother?" "What good will it do?" Ultimately, "What price will I have to pay?" These are questions I have battled with and still battle when sharing with others that I had major depression a couple of years ago.

Despite the tremendous fears, the stories are told because they are stories of the celebration of life, not of sadness or of isolation. Being depressed is a feeling completely different than having the blues. Although the description can lead one to believe that there is a fine line between depression and sadness, the difference in experience is almost black and white. You cannot just "snap out of it," and it is not a reflection of how strong your mind is. It is like putting your hand on a table and telling yourself not to feel the table below your hand. It is impossible, and the more you try, the more you are conscious of its presence.

What is very present and tragic is that depression is very treatable, yet treatment is not sought due to fear of stigmatization. It seems as though each year there is a student who has committed suicide due to depression. My heart broke to hear of losing one such student this year.

Seeking help does not equate to seeking defeat. It does not make you less of a person, less capable, less brilliant, less of a friend, less beautiful, less of anything but the very best of who you are. To seek help is to exuberate these qualities, because you have the courage, understanding, will and care to listen to your mind, body and soul. Too much is lost by all of us when nothing is done. How many student lives could have been saved?

Those who are suffering from depression know that at the core they are the same person, but to tell others they have depression makes them vulnerable to stereotypes. When others make such erroneous judgments, it is one more hindrance from someone being true to their self or seeking help; it could hinder a life being saved. No one can go through so much without coming out of it stronger and more insightful.

To those who may be going through difficult times, whether due to finishing a strenuous first year in college or venturing off into the "real world," having an eating disorder, abusing alcohol, experiencing discrimination or anything else: Acknowledge what you are going through. Continue to tell others your story. It lies in the deepest part of your soul. You feel its presence with every heartbeat, with every moment you live, and yet we deny its very existence. You know you would not be the person you are if it were not inside of you. It is like the singular thread that weaves all the multiple patches of a quilt, the experiences in your life. It is one detail, and yet it has the overwhelming power to change the world you live in. It has the overwhelming power to change the world others live in.

What's your story? Tell it like it is. People are listening.