Last Thursday, Winthrop's Visible club collaborated with many organizations to put on a cultural event called "It Could Have Ended There."

Seven panelists talked about their life experiences with various topics, including anxiety, depression, poverty, homelessness, and abuse. Their stories ended with them seeking help, and the importance of seeking out those resources.

For anybody who knows me well, I cry easily, and I shed tears for everyone who shared their story, including non-panelists, and myself. I am a person who does not deal with their problems and I suffer for it.

My sign is Cancer, so I am quite emotional. I am also neurotic and I tend to think about others before myself - except sometimes that is taken literally. I went through a depression from middle school through my freshman year of high school because I didn't know myself anymore. I cared for schoolwork, but at the same time I didn't - it was important, but I also treated it as an obligation.

Most days I would feel empty and unfulfilled despite my accomplishments. I push off compliments but internalize criticisms (including constructive), and mentally punish myself for it. My favorite phrase whenever I get a compliment is "I try."

Ultimately, it is self-affirmation. I love getting involved and being engaged, but I do a lot of things so that I know that I'm not a waste of space to someone. That I have a purpose. And whenever I perceive something as a failure, I bash myself. So I do more and more stuff to try and achieve that self-fulfillment, but there's always something to prove. It's a vicious cycle.

I still deal with the effects of that time, and I relapse sometimes due to my extensive activities and schoolwork. But, it starts with me. If I want to make things a little easier, then I need to find those resources. People can recommend and lead me in the right direction, but I need to take the first step.

Sometimes counselors are good, but you can also go to friends, advisors, co-workers, professors and family for aid as well. You can implement an action plan or just talk about it to get it off your chest.

So, I want to say thank you to all the organizations and departments that helped make the event a reality. It touched everyone that night, and it made me realize that I should take more initiative to help myself.

I also want to thank my friends, family and peers who made me feel like I belong or am worth something. It's the reason I wake up every day. Places like Palmetto Scholars Academy and Winthrop University helped me realize my potential and my gifts.

After all, I can't do anything if I'm not here.