The Reason I Started this Campaign

I’m not an influencer. I’m no youtuber. And I’m certainly not a Tiktoker–although, I love to

make lipsync videos that make other people cringe every time they see one. 

But my favorite videos are the ones where I talk about the true stories, or getting people to relate with my experiences. 

Photo by Lively Scout

When I first started this campaign with Minorities in Medicine, I knew it would be different. I’d get a lot of strange remarks, especially from my closest friends and family. 

• “Why’d you start doing this?”

• “You’re not a mental health expert…”

• “These videos won’t get far.”

• “Your content is too boring.”

These comments wouldn’t bother me so much. I realized before this that people would view me differently, primarily because they’d think I was doing it for my resume or to impress others. However, I didn’t care. Though my current videos aren’t the greatest, I feel like they’re doing well. I just wanted to keep posting. And the reason for it began in high school. 

NYC has nearly 40% of students saying they feel persistently sad or hopeless — the highest rate in over a decade (NYC Comptroller Mark Levine, 2021). My best friend became a part of that 40% at one point in our high school career. We have been inseparable since kindergarten, but the spark she once had during school lunches and breaks suddenly fizzled out. 

Senior year was very stressful. We had college applications, senior dues were gradually creeping in, prom dresses needed to be shopped for, and don’t get me started on graduation. I still feel like my twelve-year old self from the pandemic, so the thought of even graduating was a day I’d never thought would come so soon. We had so much going on at once, and life was rushing by us so fast. My best friend had a disappearing energy, one that drastically changed too soon. We stopped going out so often, calls became short, and I wasn’t used to seeing her feel so down. 

Even with therapy, it almost felt like she wasn’t getting the proper help needed for her support. 20% of adolescents reported not receiving mental health therapy due to cost and the fear of letting others find out (CDC, 2024). My other closest friend and I would have conversations about her sometimes, and I’d always ask myself if there were hidden stressors we’d be unaware of. 

However, there’s a light at the end of every tunnel. We managed to get through this part of our lives, but seeing her mental health deteriorate was a scary experience for us. I wanted to help address the mental health crisis in New York City, whether or not it may feel embarrassing. Stories like my best friend remain hidden from the world and shouldn’t be left unknown. Though we’re able to pass these moments of high school, I want to encourage others to share these similar experiences. 

So thank you, to Oditi and Salicia, for being my inspiration in starting this campaign. I hope this reaches out to minds like us, teens who struggle being understood. 

Sources:

1. “NYC Comptroller Mark Levine Calls for Oversight of Palantir’s Involvement with the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.” Office of the New York City Comptroller Mark Levine, 2021. comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/nyc-comptroller-mark-levine-calls-for-oversight-of-palantirs-involvement-with-the-department-of-homeland-security-and-u-s-immigration-and-customs-enforcement/. 

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, November 20). NHIS-Teen | National Health Interview Survey. www.cdc.gov