When I stepped foot in my dorm in August of 2018, I was on top of the world. College had just started, I was going through primary recruitment, and this was a brand new chapter that I got to write, all on my own. What a dream! These next four years were going to be the best, and I truly believed nothing could stop me. 

Although this idea felt true for the first semester of my college experience, my life - and my mindset - gradually began to change before my eyes. 

 It was spring semester, and I hit one of the lowest points of my life. I didn’t understand the panic attacks, the overwhelming urge to break down and sob when the slightest inconvenience occurred, and, more than anything, I didn’t understand my own feelings. I refused to admit that what I experienced was anxiety (which would be my diagnosis one month later). I didn’t want to be the girl who had problems with her mental health, but I also knew I couldn’t hold on to this feeling any longer. When I confided in my best friends and ADPi sisters about my anxiety, the reactions I received were of pure love. 

My twin sister, Ashley - who just happened to also be my ADPi sister - said the words I needed to hear at the exact time: “You are so much more than what makes you anxious, and you have overcome so many obstacles already. We will get through this together.” 

I had never felt so supported by a group of people before, especially when discussing a topic as important as mental health. These women made me feel seen and heard, despite my anxiety. Despite the tears and the shaky hands. 

That was the moment I knew how important this place and these people were to me.

It has been three years since then, and although I still grapple with my anxiety on a daily basis, I know that my mental health does not define who I am. In fact, my anxiety has completely changed how I view mental health. Because of ADPi and the people it gave me, I learned to prioritize my well-being. I learned the importance of talking about these issues, because no one should ever feel alone in their mental health journey. 

From the bottom of my heart, I thank ADPi for guiding me through this journey, for helping me feel secure enough to talk about my mental health, and for transforming me into a mental health advocate. 

 If it weren’t for people like Ashley, Katherine, Tess, Kimberly, and Cassie, I may never have felt comfortable enough to speak up about what I was going through. When I look back on that day, I feel so proud of young Shelby and the challenges she has overcome. 

You are so much greater than what makes you anxious. Thank you, ADPi, for recognizing the significance of our mental health! Together, we can make this change and continue to lift one another up.