Sunshine in the Darkest Days by Kaleigh

Sunshine in the Darkest Days by Kaleigh - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

A very happy energetic girl, turns into a self-isolator. Questions arose, concerns were brought to my attention, and yet I am still here. As a senior in high school this became my worst nightmare, my stage of wanting to give up and be gone. Teachers were sending emails, counselors were booking sessions, doctors prescribed medicines, and yet I was still in the same state of mind. Whatever they tried to do, despite me feeling gratitude, did not work and I felt defeated. I began to write negative thoughts, draw bad pictures, self-harm, and push everyone that cared far away from me. This is when I had to come to reality and look at how happy I used to be, and admit that I needed proper help.
The weekend of March 7, 2025 is a weekend that has changed my life towards the good. It made me realize who I am and what my life has to offer me. I found strength within myself that I didn't even know existed. I overcame the darkest parts of the storm to help shape my future growth as an individual.
Before that weekend I struggled heavily with my mental health. I questioned my existence, wondered if anyone noticed I was here, and had a plan to be done with all these struggles. I was sent to a mental health facility for the weekend to learn healthy coping mechanisms, talk about what caused my negative thoughts, create a safety plan, and focus on myself. At first, this was the scariest thing I have encountered, as I was alone and all I got was two phone calls and an hour visitation period. I began to ask myself, "what is this life", "why would they do this to me", "why can't I just go home". Then I realized that there is always a reason for events in your life. I realized I was put into this earth for a reason, to achieve my own personal missions, and tell my story.
Moving forward I will continue to be a mental health advocate (as I am currently involved in Positive Peer Advocates). Mental health is often overlooked and not taken seriously, until someone is in that place and then it becomes a reality. Many don't know all the pieces of the puzzle, many believe that everyone lives there own perfect life. But people have to realize life is not perfect, events don't define you, you don't have to live by your past events in your life.
Moving forward I will also not judge anyone that has their own story to tell. You can't just assume you know everything, or write someones beginning, middle, and end. Everyone lives their own separate life and has their own reasons, so when they come to realization and need help moving forward, I will be in their corner. Especially the younger generation; as they may lose loved ones,get bullied, feel neglected, get abused in any way, or even just feel alone, they need to know that older people care and that they aren't the only ones that have gone through rough patches in life.