Life is hard, but Aggies are resilient.

Together, we can erase the stigma of getting vulnerable, sharing and seeking help around mental wellness. See the written stories below, and share your own.

Williams Singh - Staff

I migrated to the US at the age of 8 years. I have had to struggle with the culture and the norms of a new country most of my life. I have worked since 16 and have struggled finding something that is fulfilling but have finally found my happy place.

What does resilience mean to you?

It means to be happy in your own skin.

• Read more about William

• What does mental health mean to you?

  Mental health means to be happy in your own skin. It has helped me find a balance between western and eastern cultures.

  Describe a time in your life where you’ve demonstrated resilience in a time of hardship.

  The hardest time I remember is when my mother passed away 10 years ago. No one around my age had ever dealt with anything like this. No one else talked in our family and feelings are nothing someone talks about. It took me 10 years but talking to a counselor was the best thing that has helped me cope with this.

Teri Lavallee - Staff

I am a Physical Therapist at UCD Student Health and Counseling Services.

What does resilience mean to you?

Resilience is the ability to bounce back (or be even better) when facing difficult challenges in life. Though it's not pleasant in the moment, I trust I will learn and grow from the adversity.

• Read more about Teri

• What does mental health mean to you?

  Mental health to me means that I am living a life that is in balance with my true self and that I am recognizing and nurturing my needs to keep that balance.

  Describe a time in your life where you’ve demonstrated resilience in a time of hardship.

  Many years ago I had a devastating knee injury while doing gymnastics that resulted in 5 surgeries. This was very difficult for me, not just because of the pain and dysfunction of the injury, but also because my identity was wrapped around being a gymnast and I also lost my scholarship to the college I was planning on attending. Leaning on my inner strength, a strong work ethic, perseverance, and help from amazing health professionals, I was able to rehab after about 2 years. Though I had limitations, I went on to a successful college gymnastics career. As a result of this difficult experience, I decided to pursue Physical Therapy so that I could help others through their injuries.

Jessica Grimm - Staff

I grew up in a small mountain in Colorado before relocating to the Midwest for 20 years. After one too many cold winters, I looked for a new job and found one at UC Davis. I moved out to California for the job in 2019. I brought with me my little dog and have since picked up three cats. I've always been a proud nerd with diverse activities. I've skated in a recreational roller derby league, performed in student aerial showcases, knit an 18-foot long scarf, and worked at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.

What does resilience mean to you?

Resilience is being able to adapt to a situation while staying who you are in order to overcome it.

• Read more about Jessica

• What does mental health mean to you?

  Mental health has been a struggle for me. My family didn't really talk, it and so I was never diagnosed and simply struggled through life. It wasn't until my senior year of college that I got a diagnosis for depression and was put on medication. It then took me several years to actually take the medication consistently because I didn't want to be considered "crazy" due to the huge stigma around me about mental health. It took someone pointing out that I wouldn't not take medication if I had a heart condition, so why would I not take it for mental conditions. My health and my relationships suffered when I wasn't taking care of my mental health. Once I started to embrace its importance, things improved. It's not been perfect but it's definitely been better than ignoring it.

  Describe a time in your life where you’ve demonstrated resilience in a time of hardship.

  I moved out to California in October 2019 to start working at the Mondavi Center. My career, starting during college, had been working as a stage technician for 20 years. It was what I studied in college and I had no plans on ever doing anything else as a job. Then the pandemic hit. I was also going through a divorce that was dragging out and it was costing a lot of money. As the pandemic continued on and the theater stayed closed, I started to wonder if I'd ever be able to work in theater again. I watched so many friends in the industry struggle as well, not only with the lack of work but sitting back and wondering if it was really worth how much we'd given up over the years for the industry. I also wondered if I was going to have to move in with my mom or sister if I wasn't able to work as it was too expensive to support myself on only unemployment. Thankfully, UC Davis offered a program that gave work to employees whose departments didn't have work for them. It was the first time I'd ever worked a 9-5 position and I saw that I had a possible future elsewhere. It would have been really easy to shut down and there were definitely times that I did shut down. But, having the support of friends and family who encouraged this new work with Student Health helped me through this period. They would check in with calls and messages to see how I was doing. A few sent out gift cards to help me financially during that time. My dog was great help to stay above the depression since she needed walks and her own medication. She would also start to lick my face and try to cheer me up if I was starting to have a cry. I realized that I had a safety net that wasn't going to let me fall and get lost in the cracks.

Brenda L Scalzi -Staff

Student Health and Counseling Services 

I was born and raised in Massachusetts (Go Sox!), I became an Aggie as a freshman in 1985 (Go Ags!). I have worked on campus since 2003. I joined Student Health and Counseling Services in 2019. I am an auntie with an amazing nephew and niece, and I have 4 cats.

What does Resilience mean to you?
Surviving challenges with your spirit intact.

• Read more about Brenda

• What does mental health mean to you?
  Content with who you are, and willing to ask for help when you are struggling to feel content. It is scary when you don't feel that contentment and feel lost/out-of-control/despair.

  Describe a time in your life where you’ve demonstrated resilience in a time of hardship.
  When my mom was in the hospital last year and we discovered some poor decisions she had made, it took several months to feel on top of everything. I cried every day during those months because it was overwhelming in many ways. I also asked for and received support from my friends, siblings and other relatives and from colleagues at work in so many different ways (meals, texts, so much grace was given to me, HUGS!). The support I received during that time was so important to getting through it. It also opened up a new conversation for me with my friends with parents at a similar time in life to make sure certain things were in place and we are all learning from each other's experiences and that is so valuable.

Anonymous - Staff

I am a UC Davis alum who works for the University now. I am a disabled, queer woman just trying to make the world a little bit better for someone out there.

What does Resilience mean to you?
Resilience means finding the love inside you, the love for yourself, and standing up for yourself. Taking charge and doing what you need to do for you. Resiliency is true self love and self care.

• Read more

• What does mental health mean to you?
  To me, mental health is so much more than taking my antidepressants or eating right. It is having a loving support system and reaching out. It is meditating and connecting to the greater universe. It is being all of me and loving me as I am. Without mental health, I am just as sick as if I had a physical malady, and it could kill me just as quickly.

  Describe a time in your life where you’ve demonstrated resilience in a time of hardship.
  I have had to find my resilience in recovery from alcoholism. I came to find recovery from this addiction over 1 year ago and it has saved my life. I was well on my way to killing myself physically, mentally, and spiritually, but in recovery I found a way to grow and connect and love. I found love. My resilience came from love and brought me to love in my recovery program, and shows me love in the world all around me. I had so many close calls, I was so sick so many times, had so many car accidents and so much more, but now I have a life beyond my wildest dreams. Recovery is possible.

Harvey Gomez - First Year Student

I am a first year and I come from a small town called Mcfarland. I am currently 17 years old. My friends would consider me a very fun, crazy, social person.

What does resilience mean to you?
Resilience for me is an act of being able to look ahead in life and decide to keep going no matter how bad the situation may be.

• Read more about Harvey

• What does mental health mean to you?
  Mental health to me means strategies and ways to improve one's health. The mind is a very important part of your life and if you are not okay, you cannot function. I believe that you need to help yourself before you can help others. It is okay to be selfish at times because you are the only person that you can truly trust.

  Describe a time in your life where you’ve demonstrated resilience in a time of hardship. 
  When Covid-19 started, it affected my life. School is an important part of my life and I am a very involved person. I have done so many activities and strive to be the best. However, Covid-19 took all that away. Being at my house and staying in my room took a grand toll to my mental health. My grades started dropping, my activities were canceled, and I lost loved ones. Throughout this time, I felt so lonely and miserable. My parents are not from here and they did not understand that distance learning meant everything was online. They cut down the hours I had to be on my devices and it shortened the amount of time I had to do my homework. I also stopped hanging out with my friends. I was in a state of despair. Suddenly, I told myself one day that I need to get myself together. Not just for myself but for those around me. My siblings who looked up to me, for this reason I had to have my head held high. I started communicating with peers, teachers, and myself. I learned to find myself again and I began to pick my grades up.

Amanda Wilson - Third-year Human Development student

Organization(s): Intercollegiate Athletics

I am a third-year UC Davis student from San Luis Obispo, CA. I have been swimming for 11 years and currently compete as a butterflyer/freestyler on the swim team. I plan to attend grad school after undergrad to study and pursue school psychology.

What does resilience mean to you?
Resilience is facing this adversity and recognizing one’s growth and strength because of it.

• Read more about Amanda

• What does mental health mean to you?
  Mental health means overcoming adversity that is both a biological and environmental barrier throughout the lifespan. It means patience, empathy, acceptance, and growth for the self. It is important to be as I am an ally and advocate.

  Describe a time in your life where you’ve demonstrated resilience in a time of hardship.
  When I was 17, I lost my best friend to a car accident. I watched the world around me collapse and had no choice but to battle the hardship head on. I soon after was denied from my “dream” school for swimming, as they found a better athlete for the job. I have learned to live with my loss and choose to live each day with gratitude because of it. I appreciate my life more than ever before as I consistently choose to be resilient.

Claudia Wang - Second-year Psychology student

Organization(s): Club Sports

I am a second-year student at UC Davis, and I recently declared my major as Psychology because I am really interested in the topics surrounding human mind and behavior and the science behind them. I hope to help discover and implement new understandings between different groups of people, including age, race, sex and other factors.

What does resilience mean to you?
Resilience means taking a step, however small or big, towards your goal even on days you feel like you cannot. If not for yourself, for someone or something else.

• Read more about Claudia

• What does mental health mean to you?
  Mental health is important as it pertains to everyone and varies in impact among people. I personally have a hard time adapting to change, so I struggled immensely with self-harm when my older sibling went to college and my friend's dad passed away. I was and still am fortunate enough to have people who listen without judgement or the desire to "fix" me. I know now it is okay to struggle; we have a whole lifetime to struggle, which makes life so complex and beautiful. Mental health is also intertwined with one's culture and identity, sometimes making it even harder to balance. As an Asian American woman, mental health means much more to me than one's personal well-being, but also a sign of weakness and shame if one fails to be "normal." Though stigma has decreased through the years, for some, including myself, it is kind of late growing up with this cultural and societal view of mental health. Therefore, it is important to spread awareness of mental health and allow people to find their happiness with available support.

  Describe a time in your life where you’ve demonstrated resilience in a time of hardship.
  When my friend's dad passed away, I just kept hearing his voice in my head, saying my name the same way he did whenever he picked my friend and I from skating practice. How could I not see or hear him again? And what about my friend? I had no clue what to say or if I had the right to feel as lost as she. She started avoiding me in school. I never tried mentioning her dad, but every day, I would ask her what she was doing or tell her a joke, to remind her I was there. At some point, I wanted to give up. I wanted her to be sad on her own, which sounds horrible I know. I kept my distance but continued to keep in touch, and eventually, our walls broke down. I learned resilience takes patience and strenuous effort but, for ourselves and the ones we love, it is worth every moment.

Kalah Bateman - First-year Cognitive Science student

Organization(s): Intercollegiate Athletics

Hi, I'm Kalah and I'm a short sprinter on the women's track team. I enjoy learning about the world around me, trying new things, and focusing on self-development. I love music, hiking, nature, creating, photography and making videos. I like to express myself in all sorts of creative ways. I really enjoy motivational videos and learning how to improve my well-being, and I plan to inspire others in the future.

What does resilience mean to you?
Resilience to me means getting dragged through hell and back and still getting up each day. It's wanting to give up, but never quitting. Its self-empowerment and picking yourself up time after time, no matter how hard it may be!

• Read more about Kalah

• What does mental health mean to you?
  Mental health is a dark tunnel that you can't see the end of but, you must bravely walk through and eventually, you will see the light. Although it can be scary and difficult, it is important to address your mental health head on. You must walk through the darkness and pain, to see the light and joy. At the end of the tunnel, you will find yourself grateful that you decided to be brave and walk through. As you walk through the tunnel of the mental health journey, be patient with yourself and remember that mental health isn't linear, it's a wave that fluctuates. It's important to tend to our mental health because it is connected to our emotional, physical and spiritual health (if that applies to you). If your mental health is off, you will start to see it show up in other aspects of yourself. If you are struggling with mental health, remember that this too shall pass, just be patient.

  Describe a time in your life where you’ve demonstrated resilience in a time of hardship.
  I am resilient because I just brought myself out of the lowest point in my life. I deal with depression and anxiety, and during winter quarter it just consumed me. Isolation, suicide ideation, hopelessness. I experienced every emotion I could ever feel, and it sucked. Each day was just dragging me through hell and back and I didn't think it was ever going to end, but I never gave up on myself. Even when I physically did not want to exist, I didn't give up. When I finally decided to feel my emotions and stop suppressing them, it was super scary. I had to be brave and walk through the dark tunnel, and I now see the light at the end of it! I reached out to people who care for me, and I started listening to my own intuition. With patience, I now hear myself clearly and I am okay! I am self-empowered and resilient for never quitting. I now have new perspective on dealing with my own mental health and I am not afraid to share my story with others because this is reality! Everything isn't always rainbows and butterflies and sometimes you really are put through the mud. What makes me resilient is never giving up on myself even when I have tunnel vision at times.

Marga Selzer - Third-year Psychology student

Organization(s): Students for Reproductive Freedom, STUCC

I am from the Central Coast of California. I grew up riding horses and playing a variety of sports, like volleyball and track and field. I love being creative, and some of my favorite things to do are paint and craft! When I'm on campus at Davis, I love spending time in the Arboretum and going out for Thai or Indian food with my friends.

What does resilience mean to you?
To me, resilience means not being afraid to put yourself out there. It's knowing that you'll encounter obstacles and failures, and persevering despite them. Resilience means that you can bounce back from whatever life throws at you and become a better person because of it. Knowing that you can grow from hardship, and that you'll always make it through.

• Read more about Marga

• What does mental health mean to you?
  To me, mental health means taking care of yourself and your feelings. It's honoring your body when you're tired and stressed. It's listening to your feelings and letting yourself feel them. It's being vulnerable and reaching out for help when you need to.

  Describe a time in your life where you’ve demonstrated resilience in a time of hardship.
  During my freshman year at Davis, I was extremely anxious and homesick. I had never spent that much time away from home before, and I missed my family greatly. Adjusting to college life was difficult for me. I expected it to be fun and exciting right away. It seemed like everyone but me was having an amazing time. After my freshman year, I decided to take a break from UC Davis. I withdrew from the university and moved back home. I worked full time and attended school at a local community college. After two years, I decided I wanted to return to UCD. I felt a bit nervous and apprehensive. I hadn't been there in a few years and felt like an outsider. I didn't know what it would be like after my break. I reapplied anyways, and trusted that after some time away, I would be better prepared to take on college life. I ended up really enjoying being back. Davis felt like home to me! I remembered how to get around and loved being back amongst other students. I was gentle with myself during times of academic stress and didn't force myself to take on more than I could handle. I got a job on campus at the Alumni Center, as well as an internship at HEP. Trusting myself to take some time off and having the courage to come back ended up being a great choice for me. From this experience, I learned that not everyone is on the same path, and that's okay. Doing what is uniquely right for you can be hard, but you know yourself better than anyone else.

Rachel Churilla - Fourth-year Animal Science student

Organizations: Intercollegiate Athletics, Student Clubs, Greek Life

I am a fourth-year Animal Science major, and I am a member of Alpha Phi sorority, animal technician at the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, and on the volleyball team.

What does resilience mean to you?
Resilience to me means coming out stronger on the other side and being able to use those past experiences you overcame to face many more difficult challenges.

• Read more about Rachel

• What does mental health mean to you?
  Mental health means a lot to me especially when I started college. Mental health is important because if you are not okay then you can completely lose yourself and feel like it is the end of the world which can be extremely scary. You need to have a well-balanced mental health to function your day to day life happily.

  Describe a time in your life where you’ve demonstrated resilience in a time of hardship.
  Transitioning to college was extremely hard for me and my first quarter at Davis felt like the longest time ever. I never thought I would get homesick since I flew back and forth across the country between my parents all my life, but when I came to Davis, I did not know anyone and it felt like everyone either went to high school with each other or had a group where they fit in except for me. I did not join the volleyball team until winter quarter my freshmen year, so I felt extremely out of place when I saw them in season in the fall and I was not a part of it yet. All my life I have been an athlete in both soccer and volleyball. That is all I did, all day every day, year-round. I thought a break until winter quarter would be nice to have some time to focus on myself and adjust to college, but I was so wrong. At the time it seemed like I was the only one who was unhappy every day when now I realize so many of my teammates and friends were also going through hard adjustments too. I wanted to quit and leave Davis, but deep down I knew if I went home, I would have regretted it in the long run. I think my resilience for coming back to Davis came from all my years of hard training through difficult times and knowing in the end it will all be worth it. As a senior now I realize it all was worth it—I am at the number one veterinary school, on the volleyball team, and in California where I have always wanted to be.

Yasmin Galindo - Third-year Sociology student

Organization(s): Student Clubs

I am the third of four children. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I am an introvert, yet very down to earth if I am around the right friends/family members. I am currently a full-time student and work part-time. I currently work at an Arco gas station. I am very passionate about motivating people to follow their dreams. The career I plan to pursue is in educational administration. I want to work in a low-income school so that I can give students genuine support. As I grew up, I found myself with a very bad support system in school. I would have thought that college counselors would be there to encourage you and keep you motivated, but I was wrong. This discouraged me from attending a university, fortunately my parents and siblings pushed me to go. I want to be able to help students find the potential in them they don’t think they have.

What does resilience mean to you?
Resilience to me is being able to overcome adversity, but I also think that resilience is being able to understand the challenges you’re facing and being able to acknowledge them.

• Read more about Yasmin

• What does mental health mean to you?
  Mental health is our social, emotional, and psychological well-being. It is what controls our daily life. Mental health is important because it affects who you are and how you live your life. It is also very important because it follows you through your entire life.

  Describe a time in your life where you’ve demonstrated resilience in a time of hardship.
  In 2006, I was 6 years old and experienced my first loss. My friend Natalie (also 6 years old) was in a car accident and passed away. At that time, I was confused and couldn’t speak of how I felt. When I was told she had passed away, I didn’t cry until I was alone. I was ashamed to be seen crying and I was embarrassed to talk about how I felt. I tried to ignore it as much as possible, but it would always be in the back of my head. In 2018 I lost my 8-year-old cousin to leukemia. I was very close to him. My mother babysat him before he was diagnosed with leukemia, so I would go home to him every day after school. He brightened up my days and always made me laugh. When he passed away, I had a better understanding of death. Yet I did not talk about it nor cry because speaking of my emotions was something I couldn’t do. That same year I left to Davis. I was very sad most of the time but did such a good job at putting on my best smile. One day I went to a party with my roommates, and I got very drunk till the point that I blacked out and didn’t remember anything. The next day my roommate told me that I was throwing up and crying over my cousin's death. At that moment I realized that I wasn’t okay and that I could no longer keep it all bottled up. So, I walked away and I cried and cried until tears didn’t come out. I was afraid of crying and talking about how I felt but then I realized that my roommate (now best friend) saw me in such a vulnerable state and never judged me yet gave me a shoulder to cry on. Accepting the fact that I wasn’t okay, and I need support was such a great accomplishment because along that way it helped me. Although I had achieved an accomplishment, I still didn’t consider myself resilient until last year. In the beginning of the year of 2020 my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. I was devastated because the first time that came to me was the outcome of my cousin. I cried every single day and my dad's illness got worse. I spent New Year's of 2020 with my dad in the hospital and I didn’t leave until he forced me to. All I wanted to do was be with him and not leave his side, but he told me that he was going to be okay and that I needed to go to school because he was going to see me graduate. I promised him that I would do my best in school and that I would graduate no matter what. I left back to school with my heart broken but then the pandemic hit and school became virtual. It made me so happy but when I returned, I saw my dad worse and my heart kept breaking even more every single time. I was in pain but talking about it with my roommate and letting out how I felt helped me a lot. I didn’t expect things to get worse but then In May 2020 my uncle passed away from a heart attack. I was in denial because we had just talked to him a few days ago and he was fine. I was in so much denial and school became more difficult, and my dad's situation worsened. I immediately texting my roommate and told her of my situation, and we talked about him and my best memories I had with him. Talking about him calmed me down a bit and helped me keep moving. In July 2020 my father passed away. My whole world came down. I then again became mute of my feelings and I bottled everything up. Until my roommate called me, and I broke down and started talking to her about how I felt and I became so vulnerable but this time I was okay. I was no longer embarrassed or scared to do so. I started writing down my feelings and things I wanted my dad to know. In August 2020 my great grandmother passed away and In November 2020 one of our closest family friends passed away. I felt like I never had time to grieve. I sit and wonder what we would be doing if they were alive. There isn’t a day I don’t think of my family members. I smile because I know they will never have to suffer. I learned that you need to learn how to let go and that it is okay to show your true self. I have showed resilience through learning how to express my feelings. One of my biggest challenges was communicating how I felt. Although I am not great at it, I try and I practice it as much as I can. This is has helped me so much because it takes away that burden, I have kept inside me my whole life. I am also resilient because I do not let my hardships get in the way of my achievement. Sometimes life’s does become difficult but as long as we try things will get better. I am very thankful for my best friend; she taught me that it was okay to show myself without being afraid. I no longer keep my emotions bottled up, I express myself, and I don’t fake a smile to hide my sadness. To me that’s achieved and being resilient because I was able to do something I was afraid to do my whole life.

Anonymous - Third-year Clinical Nutrition student

Organization(s): Student Clubs, Greek Life

I'm a junior transfer. I try to play guitar and make art in any free time I have. I am a part of SNA and in Delta Gamma sorority. I have an internship for a non-profit called Open Source Wellness. I am a huge foodie and I own a bearded dragon.

What does resilience mean to you?
Resilience to me in recognizing that you are doing your best even when it doesn't feel like it. That failure is not an enemy, but giving up is. Resilience means getting through the hard times by any means necessary which is scary, but sometimes we have to put the ego aside and ask for help.

• Read more about Anonymous

• What does mental health mean to you?
  Mental health means everything. When it begins to lack and your mental health deteriorates the domino effect in your life can feel like the ground is shaking beneath your feet. Everything hobby or routine is disturbed, you feel completely alone, relationships plummet and the world is dull. It's hard to maintain normalcy especially suffering from negative mental health during a pandemic. Mental health encompasses so many things and sometimes other aspects of your health play into it. When I have depression and anxiety it is a reminder to slow down and that something is off. How can I relieve my stress, take care of my physical health, and show up for myself that will help me get the ball rolling again.

  Describe a time in your life where you’ve demonstrated resilience in a time of hardship.
  My transition from community college to the quarter system was tougher than I thought it would be. Learning to navigate the resources available during a pandemic was difficult. My mental health plummeted, along with dealing with my brother's drug addiction, the death of a close friend all while balancing school, a sorority, my internship, and overall health—it seemed impossible. It still seems impossible at times, but with friends and support each day seems to get better and I do have hope even when the pressure seems too hard to bear. My negative mental health led me back into the anxiety and depression that I had worked on for years and was managing quite well until these events. I failed a class which was really hard for me to accept. I started to feel like a failure. I was cancelling social plans and spending a lot of time alone. I was questioning my sexuality and spirituality. It felt like everything was crumbling and honestly I just reached out to people.

Anonymous - Third-year Psychology student

Organization(s): Each Aggie Matters Ambassador

I am a third-year Psychology major. I am the youngest of five and spent the first 16 years of my life in a small town in New Jersey. I value empathy, active listening and taking time to truly know others. I have a cat and two dogs, all of which I love dearly (although my cat, Luna, gets most of my attention). I would like to leave this world giving more than I took from it.

What does resilience mean to you?
Resilience means strength. When I think of resilience, I cannot separate it from the people I love.

• Read more about Anonymous

• What does mental health mean to you?
  Mental health means looking inwards and reflecting on the journey (both the good and bad) that has made us into the imperfectly perfect human beings we are today. Mental health is something studied by experts, taught by professors, and felt by all. It is a true unifier in this world in which so much divides. Mental health means self-care, resilience, struggle, understanding and empathy.

  Describe a time in your life where you’ve demonstrated resilience in a time of hardship.
  I have lived my whole life thinking my anxiety was imbedded into me, indistinguishable from my hair color or my height. In some ways, my psychology classes would suggest, that is true. But I am not my anxiety and I struggle every day to overcome it. I feel it in my chest, my stomach, my legs and perhaps most inescapably in my head. What I've learned in my three years of psychology is that you must face your anxiety with bared teeth and white knuckles; stare into its depths and say: "I am not scared of you." I still have yet to do this. I have anxiety attacks where I cannot breathe, clutching onto the nearest bathroom stall divider for support, and my body collapses. I ruminate to the point where I cannot focus on anything other than my worries. I pinch and claw at my skin, begging it to hear me. And all the while I am here: writing this. I am here because of those around me. When I question my own strength I look to my friends, and how their beauty radiates from their strength. I live for them. I look to my mom, and my sisters, and my brother, who often suffer in silence but still they breathe. I feel this world ... in all of its imperfection. It glows and it welcomes me.