“1 in 5 teens in the U.S. has experienced a serious mental health disorder.”
Source: National Institute of Mental Health
It Starts With Silence
Have you ever walked past someone sitting alone at lunch or zoning out in class, and never given it a second thought?
I have.
As part of the 2025 RCOZ internship, we were encouraged to share real stories about mental health, not statistics, not lectures, but human stories. I want to tell you one that left a lasting impression on me. It’s about my cousin’s friend, someone who today is thriving in college but not too long ago was fighting to survive.
Invisible Battles in High School
Her story begins in 8th grade.
“My depression started in 8th grade. I moved around a lot before finally settling in 9th grade in Fort Bragg, which meant I never kept any of the friends I made. My parents were Filipino and very understanding, but I couldn’t share my problems with them. I often zoned out in class and slept at home for extra hours, doing nothing.”
Imagine being surrounded by people every day, but feeling completely alone. It wasn’t just the constant moving that affected her — it was the lack of emotional roots. No long-term friendships. No support system. Just drifting.
When It Got Worse
“Then came 9th grade, and freshman year was brutal. I had no friends, and those kids weren’t exactly friendly. All of 9th grade, I struggled to keep my grades up, I sat alone at lunches, and was sometimes pushed around or made fun of as the ‘odd kid.’”
Most of us have seen students like this: the quiet one, the loner, the one who gets teased. But how often do we ask why they are the way they are?
Rock Bottom: The Turning Point
“10th grade was where I hit rock bottom. I lost my will to live, and in October, I tried to take my life. Thankfully, I didn’t succeed, and I was put with a therapist and set up with a peer at school to monitor me.”
This part of her story stopped me cold. Because it made me realize how many people are barely holding on, and how close they might be to giving up without us even noticing. Her life could’ve ended before anyone knew how deeply she was struggling.
The Climb Out
“I slowly started coming out of my depression, and I do still feel some after effects, but now I am overall healthier. It hasn’t been easy, and the struggle still lingers, but I refused to let it define me. I’m now a proud psychology major at UC Berkeley, and I am ready to turn my past into purpose.”
Healing didn’t happen overnight. It never does. But the fact that she’s now studying psychology, hoping to help others like herself, shows just how powerful the journey of recovery can be.
Why Her Story Matters
Her story reminds me that so many people are silently going through similar struggles. Maybe they haven’t told anyone yet. Maybe they think they’re the only one. But stories like this prove otherwise — there is a path forward, even when everything feels impossible.
If you’re struggling, please don’t stay silent. Reach out. You’re not weak. You’re human. And you’re not alone.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Pranil Gundugola, a 2025 RCOZ intern passionate about mental health awareness and storytelling. I believe that sharing stories is one of the most powerful ways to create empathy and change. Thanks for reading.
