Sarah L.
Photography by Emma Joseph
If you’re reading this, never lose sight of hope.
Hope is a feeling that can feel vague and difficult to access during our hardest times, but it is such a powerful force of resilience.
Hope is remembering that what’s ahead contains so much more love and joy than we could imagine. Remember the feeling of the first warm day of spring after a long winter, and the relief of realizing once again that no season lasts forever? That’s hope. It’s making a new best friend and remembering how many people you haven’t met who will love you. It’s all of those moments that remind us why this life is so worth living. Those moments can be fleeting when facing difficult circumstances, and you could forget how beautiful life can be, but that’s okay.
Life is full of unexpected joys, and you’ll remember again. Despite the hardships and pain that this life can bring, there’s always a reason to have hope and I believe this is the force that can sustain us through any circumstance. Here’s the thing, the future contains so many more moments of happiness and celebration than we could ever predict or plan. I don’t know what you’re going through or the pain you’ve experienced, but I do know it’s worth continuing to fight. You’re so resilient, and I wish you didn’t have to be, but it gets better. It really, truly does. Life is hard, but it is so worth living. What if tomorrow you wake up and hear a new song that resonates with you? What if next week you meet someone who will stay in your life forever? What if you get your dream job next year? What if it all works out? What if hope is all you need to believe that the future, despite the inevitable challenges, is far better than you imagine? I believe it is. Let this be your reminder that even in the darkest of times, light is always ahead of us, and often closer than we might think.
I’ve come to these conclusions through the mental health challenges I’ve faced over the past few years. Though I didn’t always have the language to express my feelings growing up, looking back, I realize that most of my life I have struggled with anxiety in some capacity. I would overthink, become anxious easily, and struggle with a fear of the future. This became more prominent when I was in high school and I became aware of the ways it held me back in my everyday life. Eventually, I realized that I could not figure everything out on my own, and I began regularly attending therapy. This was hugely beneficial to me, and therapy became the main place where my mental health difficulties were validated and understood.
Unfortunately, during my sophomore year, I began to develop depression, and I was confused and frustrated. I did not anticipate depression entering my life- I was a typical high school student playing volleyball, focusing on school, and developing my friendships. For the next several years I was fortunate to have access to therapy, doctors, and an incredible support system. Each of these things played a crucial role in helping me understand and cope with anxiety and depression. I faced many tough days, but I ultimately realized the power of having an undying, eternal sense of hope to hold onto. I am thriving now and have truly loved my first two semesters of college.
On my hard days in high school, I didn’t know what the future would hold, and I was scared that I might be unable to succeed at Wake Forest. To be honest, some days, I even doubted that I would be able to start freshman year with the rest of my classmates. I am so thankful that my story evolved as it did, but I couldn’t have gotten to this point without my amazing support system.
I understand that some people’s stories aren’t this optimistic, and things don’t get better. My heart truly breaks for you. I hate that life is unfair and can be so hard. The battle for hope could be the fight of your life, but it is a battle worth fighting.
Sincerely,
Sarah L., Wake Forest
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