This is what I want to do for the rest of my life

I have a history of depression and self harm. Because of that, I’ve of course always been passionate about mental health and recognized it as an area that needs improvement in the world, but I’ve never been someone who finds much comfort in the “everything happens for a reason” philosophy.

I worked as a summer camp counselor for girls of varying ages. One of our duties was to spend one on one time with the girls to foster that connection in a group and individual setting. In a specific one on one, one of the campers shared with me that she was struggling with anxiety and self harm. She didn’t have many people to turn to because it was really only her best friend that knew about her situation. I talked to her for a while. I was able to honestly tell her that I know what it feels like to feel so isolated and alone, to go to counseling, to feel like you’re crazy... Knowing what’s it like to be in her shoes, I was honored to be that trusted person she shared with. After camp ended, her dad found me on social media and sent me a really long, sweet message about how much of a difference he had noticed in his daughter since camp and how much of an impact I had made on her. It felt really good, and not in the way that it feels good to help another person, but it felt good in the way that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.

I still don’t know if everything happens for a reason, but I can say, in that moment, I was really glad I had my own history to be able to help this girl.