Walking down the hallway after coming off the bus early in the morning before class for the first time in my sophomore year was a daunting experience. My freshman year was cut short but I was okay with that, I accepted it. The emptiness of the school was scary but also comforting to know that this is where I was going to be for the next 3 years. Every day, every month, every year, walking down that hallway got easier and even a bit annoying at times. I was so focused on what I had to do next to get out of there. Graduation was coming closer and so was I. There was nothing standing in my way other than me. Then I stopped myself. I went through the most challenging time of my life when I had to leave that comfortable hallway in exchange for time spent hospitalized. The times that I wasn’t at school made me realize how much I had taken it for granted. I wanted to be comforted by that environment so badly, but I had to work on myself first before I focused on what I wanted for my future in that school.
Time passed on as it always did, and so did my self destructive ways. After months and months of extremely hard work, I made it back to school. I was finally able to focus on what I initially wanted to when I first stepped into those hallways. Though, nothing in life is that simple. My journey was far from over, I was starting to see it and thankfully for me, so was County. My suffering was not spent in silence. The extremely compassionate ways of our counseling and mental health departments made these years more survivable than I ever thought they could have been. Their desire to help me become a better student and a better person in general was some of the best help I could have ever received. They treated me with respect, love, compassion, and understanding. All of those things I could not have made it to this point without. Time spent crying on their shoulders, worrying about future endeavors, talking to them about my life and my classes are all things that I will never forget.
Being referred to them was the main thing that helped me stay afloat all these years, and I will never fully be able to express my gratitude. Heather Rainey, Keri Hendershot-Waymire, Mack Crawford, Dan Croyle, and many others are part of the reason I am able to say that I survived. Their unfailing support has truly saved my life and they can save so many others. My main point in sharing my story is to make sure that all students know that you are absolutely never alone in this school. There are so many people here wanting to help you succeed and wanting to help you get back on track. Reaching out to them is so easy, they are always waiting for anyone who needs help with open arms.
Please take this advice, reach out to those right in front of you. They will never judge you and will always be there. Good luck to all future students, please know that there is so much more in this world than situations you are going through in the moment. You are loved and respected, please stay alive. You are never alone here.
