"I Thought High School Would Be the Hard Part- It Was Me"

I started freshman year excited. New school, new people, a fresh start. But after the first few weeks, I started waking up with a tight chest and sweaty hands. I’d overthink everything: what I said in class, what I wore, even how I walked down the hallway. I thought, “Everyone else seems fine. Why am I freaking out?”

One day during lunch, I hid in the bathroom because the cafeteria felt too loud. My heart was racing like I’d just run a mile. I googled "why do I feel scared for no reason" and boom- everything pointed to anxiety. That was the first time I realized what it might be.

I told my older cousin, and he said, “Dude, I had that too. It gets better.” He helped me talk to my mom, and then we found a therapist who gets teens. Now I’ve got tools like breathing tricks and stuff that sounds cheesy but actually works. I also started writing music to get my thoughts out.

If you're reading this and feel like you’re on edge all the time, like your brain’s on overload. just know it’s okay to not be okay. And it’s more common than you think. You’re not weird, broken, or weak. You’re just human.

- J, Class of 2028