This past year, I have had the honor of welcoming a new friend into my life - one who has faced a multitude of hardships and has faced things in life that many of us can't even fathom.

From loss to homelessness and abuse, this individual has been through it all. With the time that we have gotten to become closer, I have gained insight on not only how fortunate I am, but how fortunate many of us are that write for the Odyssey, that have the opportunity to attend college, and that have the finances to afford college and beyond. Not only have we been blessed personally, but the fact that we have gotten this far shows that we have all been blessed with some sort of opportunity. At the very least, the opportunity of life.

Although this individual has been able to push through their exterior antagonists, they still face internal battles that create an everyday struggle. From feeling useless, worthless, and lifeless to unfortunately feeling like it is time for the end, it all continues. The world of depression and lack of self acceptance evades no one. It sees no color, no race, no economic or political standing. It sees the pain, it sees vulnerability, and it sees the opportunity to lose those who think they don't have the potential to make it. And in a time when the internet and social media take a hold of our decisions, our mentality, and help to create a facade, it is time we start asking, listening, and supporting.

Whether you are close with someone or not, whether they seem perfectly fine or not, whether they have the biggest smile on their face or the loudest laugh or the brightest blush on their face - I ask that you please ask if they are OK. Ask anyone and everyone, and listen sincerely. Because I guarantee you, one question, one conversation, and one ounce of love can make the difference in a split second decision.

I personally know from experience that college and life have their ups and downs, and with the pressure to move on to succeed and to not disappoint yourself, you enter a hole.

It's a hole in which your throat seems tighter, your voice seems smaller, your tears seem hotter, and that big gulp in your throat from holding back tears and your true emotions gets bigger. In this hole, you want to do nothing but sit in your room and watch TV shows to fantasize about your future career or blast music to drown out the thoughts of doubt. I've been there more times than I can count, and this new friendship has reminded me that people and certain situations in life happen for a season and for a reason.

Take those tears and those emotions and use them as a slingshot to propel you to the next stage in life. Always forgive, but never forget. This will help you to heal and help you to remember what to do the next time a similar situation comes around. Sometimes it's easy to blame the outside world; sometimes its easy to give up. But like I told my new friend, in this life, it takes time, energy, forgiveness, and persistence to keep you going.

Find a hobby, a book, or any form of inspiration of joy or content to keep you going. And always remember that it's never your starting point - it's your end goal. Make goals for yourself and try to accomplish what people say you can't do because the biggest revenge in life is success. And if we were all to do exactly what the next person is doing, there would be no invention, imagination, or originality. It gets hard, but like Gatsby, we should all reach for the green, white, yellow, pink (or whatever color you want it to be) light, and like a blue fish in the sea said... just keep swimming.