Class of 2004
It doesn’t always get easier as you get older, but you probably will get better at handling life.
I had a few big stressors in high school. At home, one of the hardest things I dealt with in high school was my mom getting diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer. I did not get along with my sister or dad at the time so it was scary for me that I might lose her. Inside school, I worried about grades and college like many other students did. Two of my friends got 1600s on the SATs on their first try - I think that speaks to the type of people present at my high-achieving school in Northern Virginia. On top of that, I struggled with what I was going to do AFTER high school. I was working so hard to get into college but I had no idea what for. It was a big challenge for me to be hopeful and excited when I couldn't see a clear future for myself.
I did see a therapist and attended a "kids whose parents had cancer" support group briefly. My art classes were some of my biggest stress relief. Being able to go in and throw on headphones or blast music in the basement at home while painting or drawing made a huge difference. I also volunteered at a nature center in the area. It let me spend time with people my age from different schools. If I wanted time alone, I could and if I wanted to talk to people, I could. Not a solution for everyone, but worked for me.
Looking back I kind of wish I had different friends in high school. A lot of them were struggling with things like depression and suicide and self-harm, and I think it almost became idolized in our group like it was a positive thing – IT’S NOT!
My current job has a strong focus on resiliency training. Some people are born naturally able to cope well with life and some people need to learn it. I think having some sort of resiliency program available for students who were stressed or anxious might have been helpful.
I did think about suicide in high school, and I actually spent a couple days in the hospital because I couldn't contract to safety. I think what stopped me was fear and the insight that it wasn't the right way to fix things. Also, the idea of disappointing/hurting people because I've never liked doing that.
My biggest advice to those who are struggling is that it doesn’t always get easier as you get older, but you probably will get better at handling life. Try to find something positive that happens every day (even if it’s small) and try to find something at least once a month to look forward to. That’s what helped me and still helps me make it through challenging situations. Everyone has to develop their own coping techniques but laughter is one that especially works for me. I try to find something about bad situations I can look back at and laugh about, even if I’m not laughing when it’s happening.
You are not alone. Together we can be resilient. However, this website is not to be used in place of therapy or other forms of help. Non-judgmental help is available 24-7: Call Crisis Link at 1-800-273-TALK(8255). Text with a Crisis Text Line specialist, by texting “TALK” to 741-741. (You can also go to your nearest emergency room or call 911.)
You can also chat online with a specialist at CrisisChat.org (between 2pm and 2am) or ImAlive.org. Many other links to various types of assistance are also available on our RESOURCES page. Help is out there. Reach out, for yourself, or for someone else.
It doesn’t always get easier as you get older, but you probably will get better at handling life.
I had a few big stressors in high school. At home, one of the hardest things I dealt with in high school was my mom getting diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer. I did not get along with my sister or dad at the time so it was scary for me that I might lose her. Inside school, I worried about grades and college like many other students did. Two of my friends got 1600s on the SATs on their first try - I think that speaks to the type of people present at my high-achieving school in Northern Virginia. On top of that, I struggled with what I was going to do AFTER high school. I was working so hard to get into college but I had no idea what for. It was a big challenge for me to be hopeful and excited when I couldn't see a clear future for myself.
I did see a therapist and attended a "kids whose parents had cancer" support group briefly. My art classes were some of my biggest stress relief. Being able to go in and throw on headphones or blast music in the basement at home while painting or drawing made a huge difference. I also volunteered at a nature center in the area. It let me spend time with people my age from different schools. If I wanted time alone, I could and if I wanted to talk to people, I could. Not a solution for everyone, but worked for me.
Looking back I kind of wish I had different friends in high school. A lot of them were struggling with things like depression and suicide and self-harm, and I think it almost became idolized in our group like it was a positive thing – IT’S NOT!
My current job has a strong focus on resiliency training. Some people are born naturally able to cope well with life and some people need to learn it. I think having some sort of resiliency program available for students who were stressed or anxious might have been helpful.
I did think about suicide in high school, and I actually spent a couple days in the hospital because I couldn't contract to safety. I think what stopped me was fear and the insight that it wasn't the right way to fix things. Also, the idea of disappointing/hurting people because I've never liked doing that.
My biggest advice to those who are struggling is that it doesn’t always get easier as you get older, but you probably will get better at handling life. Try to find something positive that happens every day (even if it’s small) and try to find something at least once a month to look forward to. That’s what helped me and still helps me make it through challenging situations. Everyone has to develop their own coping techniques but laughter is one that especially works for me. I try to find something about bad situations I can look back at and laugh about, even if I’m not laughing when it’s happening.
You are not alone. Together we can be resilient. However, this website is not to be used in place of therapy or other forms of help. Non-judgmental help is available 24-7: Call Crisis Link at 1-800-273-TALK(8255). Text with a Crisis Text Line specialist, by texting “TALK” to 741-741. (You can also go to your nearest emergency room or call 911.)
You can also chat online with a specialist at CrisisChat.org (between 2pm and 2am) or ImAlive.org. Many other links to various types of assistance are also available on our RESOURCES page. Help is out there. Reach out, for yourself, or for someone else.
