Take a look at yourself in the mirror. I bet the first thing you’ll notice is all of your physical features. You may have spent hours and hours working to get to what you look like now. Whether that’s hours spent at the gym, playing a sport, or even hours with makeup brushes. Everyone spends much of their time worrying about their physical appearance, and in the end there is no time left for the mental state. So now, may I ask you, are you taking care of your mind just as much as you’re taking care of your body? 

It’s okay to be emotional, it’s okay to be downcast, and it’s okay to be angry. But it is not okay to not know how to navigate through those strong emotions. Everyone goes through phases where life isn’t the easiest, and that’s not a bad thing necessarily. Getting through that tough spot may be one of the hardest things you do, but I promise you it’s worth the fight. When you come out of those phases you become a much stronger person, who has learned a lot about themselves. 

Like come on, this is high school, and this is the time to be doing everything in our ability to become who we’re meant to be. By taking care of yourself, and looking after your mental health, you will go far. I know that at times putting your mental health as one of your top priorities may seem like an impossible task, but it is so important to address and take action on any mental problems before they become a bigger issue. It is truly like a ripple effect if you improve your mental state, because then other areas of your life will see that same improvement. 

So please watch over yourself, and don’t ignore that inner voice who is asking for help. It only takes one conversation, one text, or one call to get the help you need. And know that it is okay to not necessarily be okay, because life is all about the ups and downs. Experiencing those highs and lows are powerful, because those are the things that create such a drive in your life.

¨It can be hard. It can be so hard. But you gotta live right now. You got everything to give it right now,¨ sang by Khalid in his song, 1-800-273-8255.