Pay It Forward
While presenting at Ryerson University last week on youth, homelessness and mental health/addictions the professor commented that he thinks it’s great that despite the stigma and pain we have experienced in our lives we give back.
It had never occurred to me not to give back.
After a year of lying to a social worker, because 1) I didn’t want the help and 2) she told me she’d never known someone who cut, I decided in grade 10 that I wanted to be a social worker. I wanted to help young people like me. I wanted them to know that I understood. I wanted them to know that they’re not freaks. I wanted to give them what I felt I never got. That drive was far more powerful then the stigma and pain ever were.
Self harming and being diagnosed with chronic depression greatly shaped my life and who I was then and now. It was not a part of that I could easily ignore. I didn’t want to ignore it.
I can’t imagine where my life would be if I wasn’t working in mental health.
Posted on March 3, 2013, in Personal and tagged chronic depression, giving, help, life path, mental health, mental illness, pay it forward, support. Bookmark the permalink. 9 Comments.
There is a sad proportion of people who don’t give back. They either harbour resentment, or develop a sense of entitlement. It’s so frustrating to deal with, because I became a teacher out of the same sense of wanting to help/understand young people and their struggles. Not wanting to help seems as destructive or counterproductive as actually perpetuating the hurt. The people who stand up and help are the ones who give hope to those who are struggling still.
In some cases silence is just oppressive, you’re right.
Like you, it never occurred to me not to give back. I think in general, the people that have suffered the most are the ones that give the most. I always think of that quote from Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.
http://summersolsticemusings.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/the-most-beautiful-person-i-have-known/
Amazing quote! I’ll think I’ll make that blog post!
Isn’t it? I loved it from the moment I read it for the first time.
My eventual goal is to be a psychiatric nurse, if I ever become healthy enough myself to go back to school.
That would be an amazing career for you! Your experience would greatly help those you work with! Good luck with that goal!
Love how your struggles motivated you to help others. I have no doubt you are an amazing social worker.
I do what I can
Thank you for the support!