From elementary school through university, I went through episodes of severe anxiety and depression. My struggles with mental illness began early, when I was only 10. I had obsessive-compulsive disorder, which made schoolwork very difficult, and I was often the victim of bullying. My self-esteem suffered enormously, and by high school I was slipping into a depression that almost ended in tragedy. In Grade 12, I managed to get good marks but, while classmates were thinking about college and careers, all I could see was my own hopeless future.

I worked through my feelings in writing, and my English teacher was kind and supportive. He said I had a gift for words and more potential than I realized. York University has a professional writing program and great services for students with psychiatric challenges, as do most universities. So I went to York, but the depression became disabling and I had to drop out. For the next few years, school was impossible. With therapy and medication, however, I began to recover.

I switched to the University of Toronto part-time and, as I healed, I increased my course load. I took psychology and loved it. Learning about the human mind shed so much light on my experiences and opened my eyes to the amazing complexity of the brain.

I'm so grateful for my postsecondary education, because I can use this knowledge to help others and to increase awareness of mental illness. Today, I'm moving forward and I'm happy to be alive. Most importantly, I've learned never to give up hope.

Erin H.