Growing up, I faced significant challenges with a speech impediment. The teasing I endured at school for mispronouncing words was tough, and it shaped much of my early life. Thankfully, I had the support of my family—especially my brother—who stood up for me when I couldn’t. Over time, the bullying stopped, but the experience left its mark.

In junior high and high school, I began experiencing anxiety, though I didn’t understand what it was at the time. Like many, I thought I just needed to “get over it.” Mental health wasn’t something we talked about openly back then. Thankfully, awareness has improved, but there is still a long way to go. Too many people continue to suffer in silence, and we are still losing far too many loved ones to mental health struggles.

In 2018, my family and I experienced an unimaginable loss when my father died by suicide. I was the one who found him. Coping with grief and the aftermath of losing a loved one this way has been one of the hardest challenges of my life.

I discovered that movement helped me process my grief—walking, working out, and staying active became my outlets. At the same time, I learned to listen to my body when I needed rest. Sharing my story also became a form of healing. When people reached out to tell me how my experiences had helped them, I realized the power of opening up: “Sharing is caring.”