Meghna
If you’re reading this, you are strong!!
I believe that even when things feel impossible, you can keep going. I believe that it’s okay to ask for help when you need it, and that doing so doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human. I believe that you can get through hard days, step by step, even when everything feels heavy. And most of all, I believe you’re enough, and that you deserve care, support, and peace.
I’ve always been independent. Ever since I was younger, I didn’t rely on my parents, I always figured out what I needed on my own. I hated asking for help. I grew up believing that needing help was a weakness. I pushed myself with a kind of toxic motivation, telling myself that I would never ask for help, because life would throw curveballs at me and I needed to make sure I could handle them on my own.
But everything changed when I fractured my metatarsal bone. Suddenly, I needed help. I had to let go of being the one who always did everything on my own and allow people to support me. There were times I felt completely alone, like my problems were too heavy to carry and no one could understand. One moment that really sticks with me is when I slipped times at Monroe Park due to the instability of my crutches. It was icy and snowy, and I remember falling and feeling so alone. Every small thing felt impossible, every step on my crutches from Monroe to Cabell felt like climbing a mountain. I was unsure if I could get through even the simplest parts of the day.
But I made it through. And I want to say thank you to my friends/family who brought me soup, checked in on me, and reminded me that I wasn’t alone. Their care meant everything. They showed me that asking for help doesn’t mean weakness, it means strength. It means trusting others, allowing yourself to be supported, and recognizing that you don’t have to face everything alone. Even small acts of kindness can make impossible days feel a little lighter, and having a community around you can make all the difference.
You are enough. You are seen. You are valued. And you are loved.
Meghna S., Virginia Commonwealth University
Connect With Us
To follow IfYoureReadingThis at VCU on Instagram, get in touch with our chapter, and learn about more resources available to VCU students, visit our chapter’s homepage.
