Ellie Greco
Photography by Greer Diaz
If you're reading this, you are deserving of love, no matter your past or your pain.
Being a part of a club that focuses on spreading awareness and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career. As the editor of If You’re Reading This at Wisconsin, I am usually the first person to read each letter submitted. It is truly an honor to be entrusted with not only people’s words but also the parts of themselves that are often the hardest to express.
As I read and edited letters each week, I began to notice something important: no matter what the writer had been through or how difficult it was for them to share their story, I never felt judgmental or critical. Instead, I felt proud and inspired. The bravery and strength in each letter made me feel less alone and gave me a deeper understanding of how pain and hardship are not things to hide or be ashamed of. I realized that my fear of being rejected if others knew my struggles weren’t based on truth, it was just a fear. Most people, when they understand your pain, want to love you more, not less.
One of the hardest things I’ve faced in my life is finding the right words to share my story with the people I love. So hard, in fact, that very few people know the full extent of my past. Opening up is something I still struggle with daily. While I’m not yet ready to share my full story with all of you, being part of this organization and hearing everyone’s stories has inspired me to start opening up more to those closest to me. It’s shown me how powerful it can be to share our truths with those who care about us.
The people who love you don’t care about the struggles, the hardships, or the mistakes you may have faced. They care about you. They want to understand you so they can love you even more. And if they don’t, that’s not your burden to carry.
I think it’s also important to take things at your own pace. Sometimes, pain is too difficult to talk about, and that’s okay. Everyone moves and heals in their own way, at their own pace. If you don’t feel ready to open up, you don’t have to. Going into college, I allowed people to get to know me for exactly who I am, without them knowing what I had gone through or what I was running away from. And those who I eventually opened up to only loved me more.
Showing another person all of you is terrifying, but it is also incredibly strong and resilient. You are deserving of love and understanding, no matter what you’ve been through. I hope that you can take a small step today, whether it’s sharing just a little more of your story with someone close to you or simply trusting that they will listen. Opening up doesn’t always have to be all at once; sometimes, it’s the little moments that make the biggest difference.
Remember, you are not alone.
Ellie G., University of Wisconsin
Connect With Us
To follow IfYoureReadingThis at Wisco on Instagram, get in touch with our chapter, and learn about more resources available to Wisco students, visit our chapter’s homepage.
AUTHOR CONTACT
This author has opted to allow readers who resonate with their story to contact them. If you would like to speak to the author of this letter about their experience, please use the form below.
