I remember attending school one day in 10th grade, depressed, just going through the motions. Only a few days earlier, my house had burned down, destroying almost everything my family owned. I did not feel like being there. I knew my education was important, but I felt mentally drained and terrified about the future.
Where would my family stay? With no insurance, how could we replace everything we'd lost? What was I even going to wear tomorrow?
The Moment I Broke Down
I was sitting in third-block chemistry class when I finally broke. All the anxiety and sorrow caught up with me at once, and I started crying — unexpectedly, uncontrollably. My teacher, Ms. Faulk, noticed. She told me to step outside and said she'd be right out.
That's where our bond began.
She talked to me about the fire, about how I was feeling. She provided guidance and emotional support, helped me calm down and compose myself so I could finish the day. And for the rest of that school year, she checked in on me consistently — sometimes bringing school supplies, sometimes just asking how I was doing.
The Advice That Changed My Life
"Treat every obstacle you face as an opportunity for improvement."
Those words from Ms. Faulk are the most important advice I've ever received. I've carried them with me since 10th grade. Every time I feel overwhelmed, every time a door closes, every time something doesn't go the way I planned — I come back to that sentence.
It doesn't minimize the pain. It redirects it. It turns suffering into fuel.
What She Taught Me About Mental Health
Ms. Faulk emphasized something that I now believe deeply: your mental and emotional health is the foundation of everything else. You can't perform academically, socially, or professionally if you're carrying unprocessed weight.
She taught me to do things I genuinely enjoy — exercise, video games, creative outlets — as tools for coping, not escaping. She showed me that asking for help isn't weakness; it's strategy.
Why This Matters for Your College Journey
College will be hard. Not just academically — emotionally. You'll be away from home, potentially dealing with imposter syndrome, financial stress, relationship struggles, and the pressure of figuring out your entire future.
Find your Ms. Faulk. That person might be a professor, a counselor, a mentor, a coach, or a peer. But find someone who sees you as a whole person — not just a student — and let them in.
- Use your school's counseling center. It's there for a reason.
- Build relationships with at least one professor or advisor before you need them.
- Don't wait until you're in crisis to ask for support.
- Do activities that fill you up, not just ones that build your resume.
Ms. Faulk, if you ever read this: thank you. You gave me the tools to turn the hardest season of my life into a launchpad. I've been using them ever since.