We are told that high school is supposed to shape who you’re going to be, that it’s where you “find yourself.” But they don’t tell you how hard that journey can be when you’re fighting battles no one else can see.
Recently, I’ve faced nothing but adversity, doing things I wouldn’t normally do, being okay with things I wouldn’t normally be okay with, fighting through each day with a chip on my shoulder every day.
I encourage all people to fight through their struggles with confidence, and make a positive change for themselves – and not to live up to other people’s standards. Self worth is important, mental health is important. It’s a struggle all of us deal with.
It hasn’t been an easy road for anybody, but we all fought to get here, and I don’t see a reason to ever let go of that fight. The feeling of accomplishing something is so great – it’s infectious, I know it first hand.
Senior year wasn’t just my last year in high school, but it was the best year of high school. Senior year absolutely shaped my character and completely opened my eyes to the unknown.
But I didn’t get here alone. To everyone who stood by me, challenged me, and believed in me, thank you. You helped me become the person standing here today. Specifically coaches, my family members and the ones closest to me. You know who you are.
But back to mental health: it’s a struggle all of us deal with. But there’s one that stands out from the rest. Anxiety.
Anxiety is arguably one of the first mental health issues we inherit, from a very, very young age. It’s the one I’ve personally dealt with the most. From skipping school because of a single presentation to missing practice because I felt like I wasn’t good enough.
The point is I’ve missed out on opportunities and stayed silent when I should’ve spoken up. Because anxiety told me I wasn’t enough.
Looking back, I still wish I had done a whole lot of things differently. But I’m learning to be kinder to myself. For every moment I showed up, even when I was scared, that counts. For every time I chose to keep going, that was strength. And yes, it counts.
So if you’re like me, if you’ve ever felt like your fear held you back, I want you to know it’s okay. You’re not behind, you’re not broken. You’re learning, growing, and doing your best. And that’s more than enough. We need to keep showing up, even if our hands shake when we do.
Some of us spiral into “what if’s,” others get stuck trying to be perfect. Some of us freeze up when we’re overwhelmed, and some of us pretend we’re fine even when we’re not, just trying to keep it all together.
The truth is, no one has it all figured out. Not at 17 years old, not at 25, not at 40. We’re all just learning how to live in our own heads, and the journey looks different for everyone.
If someone has ever told you they don’t have anxiety they are surely lying to you. We all carry it. It’s human nature. Now it is true that we don’t all have the same amount and we each have our own unique way of processing the world around us. But if we can learn to support ourselves and each other through the hard stuff, then we’re already ahead of the game.
So whatever your battle is, whether it’s fear, failure, or self-doubt, fight it with everything you’ve got. You owe it to yourself to try.
This may be the end of high school, it’s not the end of our journey. It’s the beginning of a life where we define our own worth, chase our own goals, and write our own stories.
The best is yet to come. Thank you, and good luck.
