Montour High School
Senior? Yes
Elite top 100? Yes
Letters of recommendation: Letter of Recommendation 1, Letter of Recommendation 2
I sat there on the grey couch, focusing in and listening closely. I processed what I heard and replied, “I can understand because I’ve been in your situation before. I’ve felt overwhelmed, stressed and even at some points, depressed. You aren’t alone.”
To which he responded, “Thanks, that’s reassuring to hear. But does it get better?”
I considered his question and finally said, “Honestly, I can’t say. But you are allowed to admit that you don’t feel okay. I have faith you will persevere because our conversation has already helped me.”
As we continued to talk, it felt as if a weight had been lifted off my chest. My mind cleared and I continued my conversation with this fellow student regarding the pressures we felt from our academics, our social lives, and our futures. Vulnerable, natural, and candid communication: this is the type of conversation I have experienced in the Speak-to-Me Room, a space in my high school dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health issues.
I am very proud to have helped create this place where students can feel safe and comforted. Since the eleventh grade, I have served my school as a student supporter with the primary purpose of being a friend to anyone who needs one. Through my time as a student supporter and now as the leader of the Change Agents, the organization responsible for the creation of the Speak-to-Me Room, I have witnessed the positive effects this room can have on students struggling with mental illness.
One of the most powerful tools I employ, not only a student supporter but also as a person, is empathy. While in training to become a student supporter, I participated in a pilot program called Me to We. This program taught me the importance of empathy, the difference between sympathy and empathy, and how to implement it on a daily basis. I try to refrain from using phrases such as “At least. . .”, and instead, I replace it with “I’ve been in your situation before.” If my time being a student supporter has taught me one thing it is that empathy fuels connection.
One in four people are affected by mental health disorders in the United States. Considering this statistic, mental health awareness is becoming increasingly relevant. I have made it my mission to help destigmatize mental health disorders at my high school. It is essential that we as a society strive for inclusion and open-mindedness regarding not only mental health, but in regards to change as well. I hope that I have left a lasting impact at my high school because I truly believe that our initiative has sparked insightful and intelligent conversations about mental health. My mission is far from over, but I hope that I have helped to lay the foundation for the students at Montour High School to truly make our world an accepting place.
Josh Heidenreich