Amy T.
Photography by Cat White
If you’re reading this, know you can dream again.
When I first arrived at UVA, I felt overwhelmed about the plethora of extracurriculars available, but it wasn’t until I found If You’re Reading This that I felt I could make a difference in my community. My battle with mental health has always been a huge part of my life, and I wanted to do something to reduce the stigma I saw within the Asian American community as well as the broader BIPOC and LGBTQ+ community. As the first Diversity, Equity, Inclusion officer of If You’re Reading This at the UVA chapter, I wanted to expand engagement with multicultural organizations to ensure that underrepresented voices were included.
However, in my second year of college, when my mental health challenges reached a climax, I decided to write a letter about my struggles as a Vietnamese American woman navigating the stigma surrounding mental health, my journey toward accepting my chronic mental illness, and the disparities I had encountered in accessing mental health care. Writing and publishing this letter was a terrifying experience, but it was also deeply empowering. I shared my story in the hope that it would resonate with others who had faced similar challenges or were struggling to seek help. After my letter was published, I was overwhelmed by the kindness and sincerity of the messages I received from people within the UVA community and through direct author contacts. More than anything, the most meaningful outcome was that, for the first time, I didn’t feel the need to hide what I was going through. This sense of relief and connection is something many people struggling with mental illness long for—a feeling of being seen, understood, and accepted.
Now, as a fourth-year student, I’ve cultivated healthy coping strategies, received the proper mental health care I needed, and—most importantly—built a community of people who unconditionally support, accept, and love me for exactly who I am. If you had told me as a second year student that I would one day be applying to graduate school and dreaming about my future goals and ambitions, I wouldn’t have believed you. Sharing my story was a pivotal moment in my life, one that gave me strength and a sense of purpose I didn’t know I had. It has reaffirmed my belief that vulnerability is not a weakness but an act of profound courage. It is a catalyst for change—not only within your own life but also in the lives of others who may need to hear that they are not alone.
To anyone struggling with mental illness, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, I want you to know that there is hope, and culturally sensitive mental health care professionals from diverse backgrounds do exist. While finding the right match can be a journey, it’s a process worth pursuing. You may feel like you’re losing your sense of identity in the process, but I promise that you will regain it—and emerge stronger, more resilient, and more connected to yourself than ever before. Healing takes time, and though the path may feel daunting, you are not alone. There are people and resources ready to support, understand, and uplift you. The support you need is out there, and you are so deserving of it.
If anyone would like to connect with me, particularly about challenges you've faced as someone from a marginalized background, I encourage you to reach out at eut5dp@virginia.edu. I’d love to listen and offer support in any way I can. Additionally, as someone who has written a letter myself, if you're interested in writing a letter and would like guidance through the process—whether it’s conceptualizing, writing, editing, or publishing—please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’d be more than happy to help you workshop it and share your voice with the UVA community.
If You’re Reading This, know that light can emerge from the darkest of places, allow yourself to dream when you can, and hold on tight to that feeling.
Amy T., University of Virginia
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To follow IfYoureReadingThis at UVA on Instagram, get in touch with our chapter, and learn about more resources available to University of Virginia students, visit our chapter’s homepage.
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