As I enter my penultimate semester of my Honours Bachelor Behavioural Science undergrad, I am reminded of a piece I wrote for my high-school newspaper. Similar in context to my current state of mind as it pertains to the completion of this degree. I was engaged in dialogue with a good friend when I shared that in our first year, I genuinely felt like a lost little puppy, with big brown pouty optics. Incredibly out of my academic element. Which I genuinely was, not to mention, all of the students in my cohort were decades younger. I was consistently outspoken, upfront, and at times awkward with difficult content. However, always said it as it is, nothing was lacquered with confectionery.

There are enumerable thoughts that penetrate my mind as the finality of this degree approaches. And, for once there is no trepidation, secured identity as it pertains to who I am and what I want to achieve. A significant difference from where I began my post-secondary academic journey in 1993.

That being said, as September is Suicide Awareness Month, I wanted to write something for the students regardless of age who are struggling. I refuse to candy-coat, there are a plethora of elements throughout the lifespan that are not easy. Depression, suicidal ideation, and anxiety can imprint within various domains, and at the most frustrating of times and circumstances. The pressures from life are tremendous, things that will drag your body or psyche through either real hot coals or shards of glass; in addition, to proverbial ones. I won’t say that some don’t have horrific circumstances, there are unspeakable human atrocities no one should be forced to endure. Where one would feel death to be the only way out, that inside of itself is a frightening thought, the loss of hope replaced with indifference.

One of the best things about a technologically advanced world is that isolation does not have to be a reality. I don’t want to be a hallmark card and say everything will be OK because sometimes it’s not. In those moments that’s when one should reach out. Engage with your Ohana in the all-consuming darkness, and find resources to specifically help you with your story. There is value in experience and building post-devastation. To all of you students finishing your first three weeks, I wish you significant success and resilience to conquer.

Click this link to access an international directory of suicide hotlines worldwide.