Anonymous

Photography by Jalencia Pouge

If you’re reading this, remember: every storm has a rainbow. 

I've been through countless seasons of feeling sad, lost, uncertain about the future, and honestly, alone. But I've also experienced countless seasons filled with joy, successes, and an amazing support system. 

When you're in one of those down seasons, it can feel like you can’t catch a break. Maybe your grades are slipping, you’re facing challenges with friends, you’re uncertain about your future, or you’re struggling to feel enough. Whatever it is, I understand the feeling. 

In one of my most recent storms, I struggled to figure out what I wanted to do after graduation. I doubted if I was smart enough or qualified for any job. I felt like my friends didn’t really care about me, like they didn’t actually want me around. I’d spend hours looking at myself in the mirror or in pictures, picking out new things I wanted to change. I thought these worries were trivial and that there were bigger problems in the world, so I kept everything bottled up. But that only made the storm worse, until finally, I was too tired to keep it all in and decided to speak up. 

I started going to therapy and opened up to my loved ones about how I was feeling. It was hard and scary at first. I worried about how people would react or how they’d see me afterward. The storm didn’t clear up immediately, but little by little, cloud by cloud, things got better. 

If you're currently going through a storm, I understand how frustrating it is to hear that it will get better. But I promise, it really does. Every problem has a solution, or something even better is on its way. Some storms may last longer than others, and you may go through more of them than some people. 

But remember: after every storm, there's a rainbow. It’s normal to experience sad seasons, but they’ll pass, and your winning season is coming.

Anonymous, University of South Carolina

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