I blamed my mom for my unhappiness instead of myself and my selfishness. The summer before I went to college, I finally hit my breaking point. The fighting with my family had reached an all-time high and my happiness hit an all-time low. This is when I decided to turn my life around. I left high school and my friends behind and went on to college to find new ones. Once I went to college, I struggled there at first too. My mom stood by me and helped me more than she will ever know. This is when I learned to appreciate my entire family, but my mom especially. My family and I easily forgave each other for our past and decided to move on.

I learned to appreciate my family more than ever. When I went off to college and had to live without them, I realized how easy it was to miss them. I learned to enjoy spending time with them and thank goodness for that because we are spending a whole lot of time together in quarantine! I learned to appreciate the good things that I have instead of focusing on the bad. It sounds cliché, but it is true. And I can honestly say that I am so much happier today than I have ever been.

During my time in Florence I realized that four months is a long time to be away from your friends and family–your support system. I began to struggle and continued to struggle throughout my trip with anxiety and depression. During this trip I realized the importance of support networks within my own life. Instead of letting my anxiety and depression consume my well-being, I learned that I am not alone and that some of my peers had the same struggles as I did. It became important for me to channel that anxiety and depression into something that motivated and inspired myself and others. For me, I decided to build an organization around positivity–The Kind Mind Movement. The Kind Mind Movement is a community dedicated to revolutionizing mental health advocacy and kindness in everyday life. Through fostering companionship, compassion, and community, the organization commits itself to enriching and empowering the lives of future generations. It is my goal to share the stories, tips, and sentiments of others in order to build supportive networks. Furthermore, it is my dream that these networks may help someone in need, build awareness, and drive kindness in our communities. I envision a world where individuals can take off their mask and reveal their true emotions without having to hide behind a smile. Rise to the challenge and make it a passion.

I learned that I am not alone and that there are other students that have the same struggles as me. It is important to channel negative energy into something that motivates and inspires you.

I never thought I would move back to my childhood bedroom at the age of 21; to never leave the house besides for walks. Quite frankly, I have had an emotional rollercoaster coming to terms with this "new normal." I miss my friends, but even more than that I miss the casual conversations with acquaintances in the Carlson Cafe, stressing over finance homework with my classmates, and all the small interactions with people that I probably wouldn't talk to on a daily basis outside of school.

I've found that maintaining some sense of normalcy - a routine for schoolwork and fun events planned over Zoom on Thursday and Friday nights - has helped me to keep a positive attitude while maintaining the friendships I value most. Almost every day, I make it a point to reach out to someone new - a friend from high school, the person I sat next to in finance class, etc. - anyone that I don't talk to in my normal routine that could maybe use a friend right now. The cool thing about a "virtual" lifestyle is that a lot of people have a lot of free time and I've been able to reconnect with individuals that I haven't had meaningful contact with in years. We all need each other right now more than ever. So, take that time to write a text to an old friend to see how they're doing. Video chat a friend from high school or that person in your class that you always wanted to be friends with. Use the time to have meaningful, intentional interactions as best you can, because we all need each other right now!

Although my first-year experience was cut short, I am grateful that the university was able to place emphasis on the health and safety of their students, faculty, and staff. COVID-19 definitely made my first year extremely memorable due to its circumstances, but it has also taught me how to be more flexible and adaptive. Some tips that have helped me stay healthy in the midst of the chaos is to: 

1. Write down a list of 3 goals to accomplish every day

2. Get fresh air & sunlight - whether that's by opening the window or stepping outside

3. Virtually connect with friends!