I am a 21-year-old senior at an engineering school. I am a student athlete, a captain and involved in Greek life. I made Deans List, have a summer job and absolutely adore my friends and family. How am I different? I post about happy times and cute pictures of me smiling with my friends and family. On social media, I am a happy, sociable person. So, how am I different? Well, like most people my age, I am scared. Scared of the future, missing the past, and scared of the choices I have made and have yet to make. People talk down my generation a lot. They say we are lazy, entitled, irresponsible and rude. Maybe that is true for some of us, but not for all. At 18 we are expected to choose a lifelong career, choose if and where we want to be educated, all while drowning ourselves in loans that we don’t quite understand. We take on part time jobs and summer internships just to pay for the books for generic classes ‘’everyone needs to take.’’ We are called irresponsible and lazy when we are trying our bests. We do work, we do study, we are doing everything we can.

All of this stress leads to a lack of sleep, poor eating habits and not enough time in the day to exercise regularly. The pressure for good grades, financial worries, failed relationships and conflicts with roommates can really affect the quality of life. All this stress leads to anxiety and depressions. In fact, depression is the number one reason students drop out of college. I have severe anxiety. I have had serious depression problems and even thoughts of ending my life. I have been medicated for depression and even hospitalized for self-inflicted harm. Here are some facts for you: one in every four college students suffer from some sort of mental illness; 44 percent of American college students are reported of having depression symptoms, and even worse, 75 percent of them do not seek help. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among college students, and depressed young people are five times more likely to attempt suicide that depressed adults over the age of 28. How am I different?

I know what you're thinking, you had to make the same decisions, and you’re right. But let's be honest here for one minute; with the technological advances we have made, with the medical breakthrough we have found, there are many more choices out there. When I was a kid, I was told that anything is possible as long as I set my mind to it. That is no longer just a saying; that is true. Effort and faith can really lead you in any direction you want to go, and that can be overwhelming.

So, how am I different? I’m a ‘’cookie cutter’’ of my generation, one might think. But I’m not. I am different. I believe in people, in humanity. I find the good in all and in all situations. I am strong, I have faith and I believe. I help others believe in themselves. All it takes is one voice to save someone. All it takes is a compliment to a stranger, a helping hand or even just a minute of your time. So next time, don’t be blinded. Ever heard the saying don’t judge a book by its cover? Let’s try that, all of us.