IYRT at Duke Team
Photography by Victoria Cher
If you’re reading this, your words matter to us.
So it’s week three and things are already feeling quite overwhelming! Wtf happened to easing into the semester?! We’re stressed out and we are decently confident we’re not the only ones. For us, clicking away on our laptops to write this letter is a relief!
Maybe it will be for you too…
Being at Duke has been one of the most amazing and beautiful experiences we could have ever asked to be blessed with. At the same time, being here has made us think and overthink a lot. After arriving at Duke, we found that as each semester crept along, this painful dread seemed to grow in our chests. Our experience at Duke has been a mix of absolute delight and happiness combined with the dread of feeling like we don’t belong here. I think the main reason we chose to join this organization and club is because its message is something that has always been something we cherish deeply.
We see so much value in sharing stories and experiences to remove the feelings of shame that come with silent suffering and mental health struggles. We think by talking about our experiences and lessons, we learn from them, and we can own all the good and difficult parts of our identities. We also just feel like the next time someone calls us crazy it might be nice to say “yes and what about it!?” Our hope is that this year is the year where we start to embrace how beautifully complex we are as individuals.
We think we should be able to embrace all those things that make up our identities. We are made up of a myriad of parts and at IfYoureReadingThis @ Duke, all parts of you are always welcome and valued. We think you should write a letter to hopefully find others to connect with and break down the barriers that have us thinking everyone around us has their lives together.
So please, write a letter! Write a letter for your younger self, your future self, or even for other students who could use your words of support and wisdom.
We think you should write a letter because not only will you become and everyday mental health advocate (and be able to call yourself a famous published author), but you can also feel the wonderful connection and community that comes with sharing your experiences in ways that just might uplift others around you.
The IfYoureReadingThis Team at Duke University
Connect With Us
To follow IfYoureReadingThis at Duke on Instagram, get in touch with our chapter, and learn about more resources available to Duke students, visit our chapter’s homepage.
