Recent High School Graduate
Growing up, I thought my anxiety and ADHD were problems to fix.
Then, at 17, I was diagnosed with autism and everything made sense, but nothing got easier. Suddenly, I had a label that came with stereotypes I didn’t fit. Part of me wished I’d never found out.
But mental health isn’t about labels. It’s about understanding yourself.
Through the Mental Health Advisory Board at my high school, I’ve worked to break the stigma around diagnoses like mine. I’ve learned that advocacy isn’t just about resources, it’s about creating spaces where people feel safe to be unfinished.
My creative outlet? Interior design.
It’s my way of crafting environments where I (and others) can breathe.
Because mental health isn’t just in your head.
It’s in the spaces you inhabit.
The conversations you have.
And the courage to say,
“This is me, and that’s enough.”
In Real Life is an essay series from CATCH in which people tell their stories in hopes others will find comfort in their experiences. Learn more.
