today the definition of a successful student is harder to achieve than ever
student is harder to achieve than ever
student is harder to achieve than ever with so many students striving for
with so many students striving for
with so many students striving for perfection I often felt as though I was
perfection I often felt as though I was
perfection I often felt as though I was lost in the mix and as I looked towards
lost in the mix and as I looked towards
lost in the mix and as I looked towards the most successful of my peers I
the most successful of my peers I
the most successful of my peers I realized that although achieving so much
realized that although achieving so much
realized that although achieving so much they didn’t seem to be living
they didn’t seem to be living
they didn’t seem to be living they were succeeding and I think there’s
they were succeeding and I think there’s
they were succeeding and I think there’s a big difference and as I felt myself
a big difference and as I felt myself
a big difference and as I felt myself falling into the same trap I realized
falling into the same trap I realized
falling into the same trap I realized that I needed to do something about it
that I needed to do something about it
that I needed to do something about it so I did a survey of my peers and it was
so I did a survey of my peers and it was
so I did a survey of my peers and it was on Twitter and I and I found that 74% of
on Twitter and I and I found that 74% of
on Twitter and I and I found that 74% of them had suffered from anxiety while
them had suffered from anxiety while
them had suffered from anxiety while only 37% of them knew someone with
only 37% of them knew someone with
only 37% of them knew someone with anxiety so as you can see there’s kind
anxiety so as you can see there’s kind
anxiety so as you can see there’s kind of a disconnect there people aren’t
of a disconnect there people aren’t
of a disconnect there people aren’t telling their peers about it and so I in
telling their peers about it and so I in
telling their peers about it and so I in the survey I prompted them to brainstorm
the survey I prompted them to brainstorm
the survey I prompted them to brainstorm ways that they can make change and when
ways that they can make change and when
ways that they can make change and when I did that many of them said that they
I did that many of them said that they
I did that many of them said that they felt hopeless and unable to make any
felt hopeless and unable to make any
felt hopeless and unable to make any change I think that’s why that they
change I think that’s why that they
change I think that’s why that they don’t they don’t want to talk about it
don’t they don’t want to talk about it
don’t they don’t want to talk about it because they don’t think it will make a
because they don’t think it will make a
because they don’t think it will make a difference and that’s where they’re
difference and that’s where they’re
difference and that’s where they’re wrong they can make a difference
wrong they can make a difference
wrong they can make a difference students are actually instrumental in
students are actually instrumental in
students are actually instrumental in the battle against mental illnesses and
the battle against mental illnesses and
the battle against mental illnesses and youth and I think that if we work
youth and I think that if we work
youth and I think that if we work together we can achieve anything we can
together we can achieve anything we can
together we can achieve anything we can defeat them and I hope that by sharing
defeat them and I hope that by sharing
defeat them and I hope that by sharing my story I encourage others to share
my story I encourage others to share
my story I encourage others to share their story as well because it’s
their story as well because it’s
their story as well because it’s important to talk about it it’s
important to talk about it it’s
important to talk about it it’s important to share your story to let it
important to share your story to let it
important to share your story to let it be known and I’ll share how I started to
be known and I’ll share how I started to
be known and I’ll share how I started to combat this for you because you aren’t
combat this for you because you aren’t
combat this for you because you aren’t alone if you suffer from a mental
alone if you suffer from a mental
alone if you suffer from a mental illness so here’s my story I’ve had
illness so here’s my story I’ve had
illness so here’s my story I’ve had anxiety since I was very young I just
anxiety since I was very young I just
anxiety since I was very young I just didn’t know it so I would so I thought
didn’t know it so I would so I thought
didn’t know it so I would so I thought that the reason that I just had an
that the reason that I just had an
that the reason that I just had an overactive imagination and that’s why I
overactive imagination and that’s why I
overactive imagination and that’s why I had trouble its sleep over it’s like I
had trouble its sleep over it’s like I
had trouble its sleep over it’s like I couldn’t fall asleep because I think of
couldn’t fall asleep because I think of
couldn’t fall asleep because I think of all these bad things that could happen
all these bad things that could happen
all these bad things that could happen to my family is kind of silly honestly
to my family is kind of silly honestly
to my family is kind of silly honestly but like I’d be like oh my gosh what if
but like I’d be like oh my gosh what if
but like I’d be like oh my gosh what if my house that’s on fire right
my house that’s on fire right
my house that’s on fire right and I’d be like sitting there in my bed
and I’d be like sitting there in my bed
and I’d be like sitting there in my bed like with my best friends like unable to
like with my best friends like unable to
like with my best friends like unable to sleep or maybe I just bad at math and
sleep or maybe I just bad at math and
sleep or maybe I just bad at math and that’s why I kept failing the times
that’s why I kept failing the times
that’s why I kept failing the times multiplication tables I’m sure few of
multiplication tables I’m sure few of
multiplication tables I’m sure few of you remember them or maybe I was just
you remember them or maybe I was just
you remember them or maybe I was just shy and that’s why I found myself
shy and that’s why I found myself
shy and that’s why I found myself physically unable to speak in front of
physically unable to speak in front of
physically unable to speak in front of large groups of people and I started to
large groups of people and I started to
large groups of people and I started to tell myself I didn’t know his anxiety
tell myself I didn’t know his anxiety
tell myself I didn’t know his anxiety yet but I started telling myself I just
yet but I started telling myself I just
yet but I started telling myself I just feel like okay just because I imagined
feel like okay just because I imagined
feel like okay just because I imagined it means that it’s not going to happen
it means that it’s not going to happen
it means that it’s not going to happen and that kind of became my model that
and that kind of became my model that
and that kind of became my model that became what I said and to myself so I’d
became what I said and to myself so I’d
became what I said and to myself so I’d be like oh my gosh I’m going to get a
be like oh my gosh I’m going to get a
be like oh my gosh I’m going to get a bad grade on this math test and I’d be
bad grade on this math test and I’d be
bad grade on this math test and I’d be like nope because I imagine it means
like nope because I imagine it means
like nope because I imagine it means it’s not going to happen my house is
it’s not going to happen my house is
it’s not going to happen my house is setting on fire or whatever the silly
setting on fire or whatever the silly
setting on fire or whatever the silly thing I came up with
thing I came up with
thing I came up with nope just because I imagined it means
nope just because I imagined it means
nope just because I imagined it means it’s not going to happen but as I
it’s not going to happen but as I
it’s not going to happen but as I approached high school which is like the
approached high school which is like the
approached high school which is like the gateway to college in college
gateway to college in college
gateway to college in college applications and all of that
applications and all of that
applications and all of that I guess overwhelmed and I didn’t I
I guess overwhelmed and I didn’t I
I guess overwhelmed and I didn’t I realized that it wasn’t quite as simple
realized that it wasn’t quite as simple
realized that it wasn’t quite as simple of a fix as I thought and I started to
of a fix as I thought and I started to
of a fix as I thought and I started to get worse and worse and as I got worse I
get worse and worse and as I got worse I
get worse and worse and as I got worse I realized that I needed to do something
realized that I needed to do something
realized that I needed to do something about it because as I would get this
about it because as I would get this
about it because as I would get this doubt in my head and as I would start to
doubt in my head and as I would start to
doubt in my head and as I would start to doubt myself like my anxiety would say
doubt myself like my anxiety would say
doubt myself like my anxiety would say okay like you’re not going to do well in
okay like you’re not going to do well in
okay like you’re not going to do well in this test and instead of approaching it
this test and instead of approaching it
this test and instead of approaching it the positive mindset I’d be like oh my
the positive mindset I’d be like oh my
the positive mindset I’d be like oh my gosh what if I can’t do all this test
gosh what if I can’t do all this test
gosh what if I can’t do all this test what if I can and my bad attitude became
what if I can and my bad attitude became
what if I can and my bad attitude became me it consumed me and it was through the
me it consumed me and it was through the
me it consumed me and it was through the status finally like okay I kind of need
status finally like okay I kind of need
status finally like okay I kind of need help like on this and I went to my mom
help like on this and I went to my mom
help like on this and I went to my mom and she was like okay let’s go to the
and she was like okay let’s go to the
and she was like okay let’s go to the therapist and I went to the therapist
therapist and I went to the therapist
therapist and I went to the therapist and I was shocked to see that it was
and I was shocked to see that it was
and I was shocked to see that it was called anxiety and it was a real thing
called anxiety and it was a real thing
called anxiety and it was a real thing that other people dealt with too and I
that other people dealt with too and I
that other people dealt with too and I didn’t realize that this like anxiety
didn’t realize that this like anxiety
didn’t realize that this like anxiety was the root of all of my problems and I
was the root of all of my problems and I
was the root of all of my problems and I was shocked and so that she told me I
was shocked and so that she told me I
was shocked and so that she told me I was very hopeful she said oh it’s just a
was very hopeful she said oh it’s just a
was very hopeful she said oh it’s just a simple fix it’s medication like we’ll
simple fix it’s medication like we’ll
simple fix it’s medication like we’ll give you a depression medication or
give you a depression medication or
give you a depression medication or anxiety medication but the problem is
anxiety medication but the problem is
anxiety medication but the problem is with for me at least and I know
with for me at least and I know
with for me at least and I know medication can be very helpful for other
medication can be very helpful for other
medication can be very helpful for other people it didn’t work it made me very
people it didn’t work it made me very
people it didn’t work it made me very depressed so I was a little worse off
depressed so I was a little worse off
depressed so I was a little worse off than I started and eventually I realized
than I started and eventually I realized
than I started and eventually I realized this and I was like I just don’t want to
this and I was like I just don’t want to
this and I was like I just don’t want to do anything something’s wrong with me
do anything something’s wrong with me
do anything something’s wrong with me this isn’t helping and I got off of it
this isn’t helping and I got off of it
this isn’t helping and I got off of it and then I realized that as vaca-oom
and then I realized that as vaca-oom
and then I realized that as vaca-oom square let’s to square one and I needed
square let’s to square one and I needed
square let’s to square one and I needed to do something about it I could choose
to do something about it I could choose
to do something about it I could choose to become my bad attitude again and go
to become my bad attitude again and go
to become my bad attitude again and go back into that cycle or I could on the
back into that cycle or I could on the
back into that cycle or I could on the other hand I could choose to have a
other hand I could choose to have a
other hand I could choose to have a positive mindset and approach it in a
positive mindset and approach it in a
positive mindset and approach it in a new way and I decided to do something
new way and I decided to do something
new way and I decided to do something about it because I realized that I the
about it because I realized that I the
about it because I realized that I the change had to start within me it
change had to start within me it
change had to start within me it couldn’t there wasn’t a simple fix there
couldn’t there wasn’t a simple fix there
couldn’t there wasn’t a simple fix there wasn’t like a pill that I could take the
wasn’t like a pill that I could take the
wasn’t like a pill that I could take the change needed to be within me so I well
change needed to be within me so I well
change needed to be within me so I well I kind of doubted myself for a while I
I kind of doubted myself for a while I
I kind of doubted myself for a while I was like can i really make this change
was like can i really make this change
was like can i really make this change college applications are right around
college applications are right around
college applications are right around the corner can I do this but I could I
the corner can I do this but I could I
the corner can I do this but I could I could do it and I believed in myself so
could do it and I believed in myself so
could do it and I believed in myself so then I just realized that one day that
then I just realized that one day that
then I just realized that one day that having a bad day isn’t up to chance
having a bad day isn’t up to chance
having a bad day isn’t up to chance having a bad test isn’t up to chance
having a bad test isn’t up to chance
having a bad test isn’t up to chance it’s up to you it’s up to me and I could
it’s up to you it’s up to me and I could
it’s up to you it’s up to me and I could change that I could change something
change that I could change something
change that I could change something those up to me if I was having a bad day
those up to me if I was having a bad day
those up to me if I was having a bad day if something went wrong or like I don’t
if something went wrong or like I don’t
if something went wrong or like I don’t know maybe I spilled something over my
know maybe I spilled something over my
know maybe I spilled something over my favorite outfit I don’t know and I could
favorite outfit I don’t know and I could
favorite outfit I don’t know and I could change that I could be like nope I’m not
change that I could be like nope I’m not
change that I could be like nope I’m not going to let it be a bad day I’m going
going to let it be a bad day I’m going
going to let it be a bad day I’m going to let it be a good day and I think that
to let it be a good day and I think that
to let it be a good day and I think that would make all the difference so I
would make all the difference so I
would make all the difference so I started applying that mindset to
started applying that mindset to
started applying that mindset to different areas of my life and the first
different areas of my life and the first
different areas of my life and the first one I did because this is last summer
one I did because this is last summer
one I did because this is last summer was a CT the scary medicine test that
was a CT the scary medicine test that
was a CT the scary medicine test that had been haunting me and I was like okay
had been haunting me and I was like okay
had been haunting me and I was like okay how can I make this chain make this
how can I make this chain make this
how can I make this chain make this positive change and so I walked into the
positive change and so I walked into the
positive change and so I walked into the a CT that’s Saturday morning like it was
a CT that’s Saturday morning like it was
a CT that’s Saturday morning like it was the place to be I was so excited so
the place to be I was so excited so
the place to be I was so excited so pumped and I listened to my favorite
pumped and I listened to my favorite
pumped and I listened to my favorite song on the car ride over there and I
song on the car ride over there and I
song on the car ride over there and I was ready I was ready to take on
was ready I was ready to take on
was ready I was ready to take on everything so I went in there and with a
everything so I went in there and with a
everything so I went in there and with a bounce in my step I gave everyone
bounce in my step I gave everyone
bounce in my step I gave everyone high-fives I was like you guys can do
high-fives I was like you guys can do
high-fives I was like you guys can do this you guys got it and I took away the
this you guys got it and I took away the
this you guys got it and I took away the negativity of the a CT and I made it
negativity of the a CT and I made it
negativity of the a CT and I made it into something positive
into something positive
into something positive and although I do apologize to my fellow
and although I do apologize to my fellow
and although I do apologize to my fellow test takers for having to deal with my
test takers for having to deal with my
test takers for having to deal with my over enthusiastic high-fives and
over enthusiastic high-fives and
over enthusiastic high-fives and cheering during the 10-minute break I
cheering during the 10-minute break I
cheering during the 10-minute break I would like to say that what if we all
would like to say that what if we all
would like to say that what if we all approached it that way because
approached it that way because
approached it that way because doing that way I achieved my dream score
doing that way I achieved my dream score
doing that way I achieved my dream score if we all approach the acct like that it
if we all approach the acct like that it
if we all approach the acct like that it wouldn’t be scary anymore
wouldn’t be scary anymore
wouldn’t be scary anymore it wouldn’t be something that everyone
it wouldn’t be something that everyone
it wouldn’t be something that everyone dreads it could be so much different and
dreads it could be so much different and
dreads it could be so much different and instead I’d like to challenge you if
instead I’d like to challenge you if
instead I’d like to challenge you if you’re a student too instead it when you
you’re a student too instead it when you
you’re a student too instead it when you wake up in the morning of the a CT don’t
wake up in the morning of the a CT don’t
wake up in the morning of the a CT don’t be like oh my god to wake up early if
be like oh my god to wake up early if
be like oh my god to wake up early if you like okay I’m waking up early I get
you like okay I’m waking up early I get
you like okay I’m waking up early I get to do this listen to your favorite song
to do this listen to your favorite song
to do this listen to your favorite song in the car get pumped up like just act
in the car get pumped up like just act
in the car get pumped up like just act like it’s a sports game or event and be
like it’s a sports game or event and be
like it’s a sports game or event and be excited and if you do that it will make
excited and if you do that it will make
excited and if you do that it will make the world of a difference because the
the world of a difference because the
the world of a difference because the change comes from inside of you and the
change comes from inside of you and the
change comes from inside of you and the thing that I see happening is that I was
thing that I see happening is that I was
thing that I see happening is that I was failing test before I took it
failing test before I took it
failing test before I took it the minute that you see that you doubt
the minute that you see that you doubt
the minute that you see that you doubt sets into your mind is the minute that
sets into your mind is the minute that
sets into your mind is the minute that you’ve already failed and you shouldn’t
you’ve already failed and you shouldn’t
you’ve already failed and you shouldn’t do that to yourself you’re worth more
do that to yourself you’re worth more
do that to yourself you’re worth more than that and I thought about how I can
than that and I thought about how I can
than that and I thought about how I can apply this to other areas of my life
apply this to other areas of my life
apply this to other areas of my life so I started applying it to my
so I started applying it to my
so I started applying it to my interactions with other people and
interactions with other people and
interactions with other people and through that I realized that other
through that I realized that other
through that I realized that other people were just as insecure as I was
people were just as insecure as I was
people were just as insecure as I was they were just as afraid of failing so
they were just as afraid of failing so
they were just as afraid of failing so why make it worse on them by not being
why make it worse on them by not being
why make it worse on them by not being as kind and outgoing and nice as
as kind and outgoing and nice as
as kind and outgoing and nice as possible so I did that I started being
possible so I did that I started being
possible so I did that I started being outgoing and kind and nice and people
outgoing and kind and nice and people
outgoing and kind and nice and people started doing the thing to me even
started doing the thing to me even
started doing the thing to me even people that were mean to me they started
people that were mean to me they started
people that were mean to me they started being nice just because I changed the
being nice just because I changed the
being nice just because I changed the way that I approach them and by doing
way that I approach them and by doing
way that I approach them and by doing that I really changed the atmosphere
that I really changed the atmosphere
that I really changed the atmosphere around me and I changed my mindset
around me and I changed my mindset
around me and I changed my mindset because I’ve noticed this phenomenon on
because I’ve noticed this phenomenon on
because I’ve noticed this phenomenon on him on high schoolers and older people
him on high schoolers and older people
him on high schoolers and older people and um the younger people that um they
and um the younger people that um they
and um the younger people that um they change that like they don’t like each
change that like they don’t like each
change that like they don’t like each other for like silly little things like
other for like silly little things like
other for like silly little things like oh she wear the same shirt as me this
oh she wear the same shirt as me this
oh she wear the same shirt as me this one day and last January like I don’t
one day and last January like I don’t
one day and last January like I don’t like her now or maybe it they did three
like her now or maybe it they did three
like her now or maybe it they did three points higher than me and maths at one
points higher than me and maths at one
points higher than me and maths at one time so I’m we’re not okay now we’re not
time so I’m we’re not okay now we’re not
time so I’m we’re not okay now we’re not friends but why what good does that do
friends but why what good does that do
friends but why what good does that do to you what good does bringing that
to you what good does bringing that
to you what good does bringing that negativity around you do it only hurts
negativity around you do it only hurts
negativity around you do it only hurts yourself so I would like to challenge
yourself so I would like to challenge
yourself so I would like to challenge you to not partake in that to just be
you to not partake in that to just be
you to not partake in that to just be positive just be nice someone’s mean to
positive just be nice someone’s mean to
positive just be nice someone’s mean to you be like oh okay hi like just be nice
you be like oh okay hi like just be nice
you be like oh okay hi like just be nice to them because
to them because
to them because if someone says mean to someone as
if someone says mean to someone as
if someone says mean to someone as amazing as you they’re either having a
amazing as you they’re either having a
amazing as you they’re either having a bad day or they’re or they’re just
bad day or they’re or they’re just
bad day or they’re or they’re just insecure in either way they probably
insecure in either way they probably
insecure in either way they probably need a friend so why are you being mean
need a friend so why are you being mean
need a friend so why are you being mean to people why am i being mean to people
to people why am i being mean to people
to people why am i being mean to people successful people when I could be
successful people when I could be
successful people when I could be working to make myself one and parents
working to make myself one and parents
working to make myself one and parents of children and teens with mental
of children and teens with mental
of children and teens with mental illnesses or even just anxiety and
illnesses or even just anxiety and
illnesses or even just anxiety and stress because that happens I would like
stress because that happens I would like
stress because that happens I would like to say to you to be the change that you
to say to you to be the change that you
to say to you to be the change that you wish to see in your children because
wish to see in your children because
wish to see in your children because they look up to you their MOT they model
they look up to you their MOT they model
they look up to you their MOT they model themselves after you whether they know
themselves after you whether they know
themselves after you whether they know it or not so have a positive mindset if
it or not so have a positive mindset if
it or not so have a positive mindset if something’s going wrong at work be like
something’s going wrong at work be like
something’s going wrong at work be like okay that’s okay we got this or if
okay that’s okay we got this or if
okay that’s okay we got this or if someone’s mean to you in public don’t
someone’s mean to you in public don’t
someone’s mean to you in public don’t give them a nasty glare and then walk
give them a nasty glare and then walk
give them a nasty glare and then walk away it’d just be like oh it’s okay like
away it’d just be like oh it’s okay like
away it’d just be like oh it’s okay like I’m sorry or and just like change the
I’m sorry or and just like change the
I’m sorry or and just like change the way you approach other people because
way you approach other people because
way you approach other people because they notice when you’re in like so have
they notice when you’re in like so have
they notice when you’re in like so have some mom drama with some other person
some mom drama with some other person
some mom drama with some other person all right else is going on because they
all right else is going on because they
all right else is going on because they noticed that and they are like okay it’s
noticed that and they are like okay it’s
noticed that and they are like okay it’s okay to treat other people like that
okay to treat other people like that
okay to treat other people like that it’s okay to do that I know you want to
it’s okay to do that I know you want to
it’s okay to do that I know you want to help your children and this is how you
help your children and this is how you
help your children and this is how you do it and I would like to challenge all
do it and I would like to challenge all
do it and I would like to challenge all of you to approach everything with a new
of you to approach everything with a new
of you to approach everything with a new and positive mindset because it makes so
and positive mindset because it makes so
and positive mindset because it makes so much of a difference it changed my life
much of a difference it changed my life
much of a difference it changed my life if we approach people and love each
if we approach people and love each
if we approach people and love each other and instead of just letting our
other and instead of just letting our
other and instead of just letting our insecurities take over take over that
insecurities take over take over that
insecurities take over take over that take over yourself first reclaim
take over yourself first reclaim
take over yourself first reclaim yourself and you will it will make all
yourself and you will it will make all
yourself and you will it will make all the difference
the difference
the difference so go out into the world with the new
so go out into the world with the new
so go out into the world with the new and positive mindset and finally to
and positive mindset and finally to
and positive mindset and finally to anyone suffering from mental unless I
anyone suffering from mental unless I
anyone suffering from mental unless I would like to let you know that the bad
would like to let you know that the bad
would like to let you know that the bad times don’t last unless you let them so
times don’t last unless you let them so
times don’t last unless you let them so don’t let them go make change do what
don’t let them go make change do what
don’t let them go make change do what you want to do because I believe in you
you want to do because I believe in you
you want to do because I believe in you and in the end of the day it is all in
and in the end of the day it is all in
and in the end of the day it is all in your minds and that’s amazing thing
your minds and that’s amazing thing
your minds and that’s amazing thing about it because you can change it
”
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