@hibrinae

As a young girl, I was privileged to live in innocence. Looking back, I can see how my parents sheltered me from different hardships that have taken place in our family. They were the most influential people in my life. They were my heroes. You always believe your hero would be with you, never does it cross your mind that one day they will be gone. This is the reality of my life. My mom was my best friend. A true character that instilled in me solid morals and values that I have carried with me even throughout adulthood. These same values of integrity, kindness, and love I wish to spread to any individual I come in contact with in my life. Parental loss is something no individual is truly prepared for. There are no courses on sudden death you can take to prepare you for losing someone you're so close to. I had just begun the spring semester of my second year in college when my mom passed away. In attempts to process the reality of my new life, my mental health began to decline. My grief and sadness drove me into a deep depression to the point where I was physically unable to focus or work on anything. I had to take a medical leave from school to save my GPA. Days merged, time ticked on, and people continued living their normal lives while I stayed stuck in time. The home that was once filled with the savory smells of my mom's cooking was now filled with stale silence. I was suffering. That is until I began to ask for help. I knew to continue with my life and make the most of it, I had to make some changes. Therapy is a resource that has helped me in times when I felt lost and without hope. Fear of judgment and rejection kept me away from seeking a helping hand for guidance. One of the ladies in my church reached out to me one day and asked me a simple question. 'Would you like to talk?' Who knew this simple question would open up a huge world of emotions in me? I had been so consumed with my grief, as well as the well-being of others that I never took the time to express what I'd been feeling inside. After, talking to her I felt such a release. It was as if a part of that burden of heaviness began to lift off of me. In that moment I knew this was something I needed to continue to pursue. This is what therapy is about. It is simply working through the emotions you feel to have more control over the way they affect you. One message I would like to share in my community is simply this. Therapy is not bad nor does it lessen your faith or belief in God. Growing up in church, therapy wasn't a topic that was widely spoken about. Now, that I am older I see the value it has. I am able offer grace and kindness to others who have experienced a similar situation to me and suggest a path that would aid in their journey. Sometimes all it takes is for someone to know that you care and love them. Today, I am back in college and will be graduating with my bachelor's degree in the next two years. This wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for someone loving me.

As a young girl, I was privileged to live in innocence. Looking back, I can see how my parents sheltered me from different hardships that have taken place in our family. They were the most influential people in my life. They were my heroes. You always believe your hero would be with you, never does it cross your mind that one day they will be gone. This is the reality of my life. My mom was my best friend. A true character that instilled in me solid morals and values that I have carried with me even throughout adulthood. These same values of integrity, kindness, and love I wish to spread to any individual I come in contact with in my life. Parental loss is something no individual is truly prepared for. There are no courses on sudden death you can take to prepare you for losing someone you're so close to. I had just begun the spring semester of my second year in college when my mom passed away. In attempts to process the reality of my new life, my mental health began to decline. My grief and sadness drove me into a deep depression to the point where I was physically unable to focus or work on anything. I had to take a medical leave from school to save my GPA. Days merged, time ticked on, and people continued living their normal lives while I stayed stuck in time. The home that was once filled with the savory smells of my mom's cooking was now filled with stale silence. I was suffering. That is until I began to ask for help. I knew to continue with my life and make the most of it, I had to make some changes. Therapy is a resource that has helped me in times when I felt lost and without hope. Fear of judgment and rejection kept me away from seeking a helping hand for guidance. One of the ladies in my church reached out to me one day and asked me a simple question. 'Would you like to talk?' Who knew this simple question would open up a huge world of emotions in me? I had been so consumed with my grief, as well as the well-being of others that I never took the time to express what I'd been feeling inside. After, talking to her I felt such a release. It was as if a part of that burden of heaviness began to lift off of me. In that moment I knew this was something I needed to continue to pursue. This is what therapy is about. It is simply working through the emotions you feel to have more control over the way they affect you. One message I would like to share in my community is simply this. Therapy is not bad nor does it lessen your faith or belief in God. Growing up in church, therapy wasn't a topic that was widely spoken about. Now, that I am older I see the value it has. I am able offer grace and kindness to others who have experienced a similar situation to me and suggest a path that would aid in their journey. Sometimes all it takes is for someone to know that you care and love them. Today, I am back in college and will be graduating with my bachelor's degree in the next two years. This wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for someone loving me.

As a young girl, I was privileged to live in innocence. Looking back, I can see how my parents sheltered me from different hardships that have taken place in our family. They were the most influential people in my life. They were my heroes. You always believe your hero would be with you, never does it cross your mind that one day they will be gone. This is the reality of my life. My mom was my best friend. A true character that instilled in me solid morals and values that I have carried with me even throughout adulthood. These same values of integrity, kindness, and love I wish to spread to any individual I come in contact with in my life. Parental loss is something no individual is truly prepared for. There are no courses on sudden death you can take to prepare you for losing someone you're so close to. I had just begun the spring semester of my second year in college when my mom passed away. In attempts to process the reality of my new life, my mental health began to decline. My grief and sadness drove me into a deep depression to the point where I was physically unable to focus or work on anything. I had to take a medical leave from school to save my GPA. Days merged, time ticked on, and people continued living their normal lives while I stayed stuck in time. The home that was once filled with the savory smells of my mom's cooking was now filled with stale silence. I was suffering. That is until I began to ask for help. I knew to continue with my life and make the most of it, I had to make some changes. One of the ladies in my church reached out to me one day and asked me a simple question. 'Would you like to talk?' Who knew this simple question would open up a huge world of emotions in me? I had been so consumed with my grief, as well as the well-being of others that I never took the time to express what I'd been feeling inside. After, talking to her I felt such a release. It was as if a part of that burden of heaviness began to lift off of me. In that moment I knew this was something I needed to continue to pursue. We would meet for a few hours every other week to counsel and pray. Ironically, on the one hand, what was the most difficult time in my life, actually turned out to be the best time spiritually. I've never heard the voice of God so clearly than in the middle of my storm. Though I was hurting from the loss of my mom, I had so much peace and confidence knowing where she was going. Life continued on and many hardships arose however, I know where my faith resides. It was at this time that I felt the call to go to bible college to pursue a degree in missions. Never in my life did I want to go to a bible college. If it was up to me I would've continued pursuing my degree in business, but God had other plans. Today, I am a junior in bible college following the will of God for my life. I moved across the country by faith believing God would provide for me. This wouldn't be possible if it weren't for me stepping out in faith and asking for help in my time of sorrow and God made my path straight.

As a young girl, I was privileged to live in innocence. Looking back, I can see how my parents sheltered me from different hardships that have taken place in our family. They were the most influential people in my life. They were my heroes. You always believe your hero would be with you, never does it cross your mind that one day they will be gone. This is the reality of my life. My mom was my best friend. A true character that instilled in me solid morals and values that I have carried with me even throughout adulthood. These same values of integrity, kindness, and love I wish to spread to any individual I come in contact with in my life. Parental loss is something no individual is truly prepared for. There are no courses on sudden death you can take to prepare you for losing someone you're so close to. I had just begun the spring semester of my second year in college when my mom passed away. In attempts to process the reality of my new life, my mental health began to decline. My grief and sadness drove me into a deep depression to the point where I was physically unable to focus or work on anything. I had to take a medical leave from school to save my GPA. Days merged, time ticked on, and people continued living their normal lives while I stayed stuck in time. The home that was once filled with the savory smells of my mom's cooking was now filled with stale silence. I was suffering. That is until I began to ask for help. I knew to continue with my life and make the most of it, I had to make some changes. Therapy is a resource that has helped me in times when I felt lost and without hope. Fear of judgment and rejection kept me away from seeking a helping hand for guidance. One of the ladies in my church reached out to me one day and asked me a simple question. 'Would you like to talk?' Who knew this simple question would open up a huge world of emotions in me? I had been so consumed with my grief, as well as the well-being of others that I never took the time to express what I'd been feeling inside. After, talking to her I felt such a release. It was as if a part of that burden of heaviness began to lift off of me. In that moment I knew this was something I needed to continue to pursue. This is what therapy is about. It is simply working through the emotions you feel to have more control over the way they affect you. Therapy is not bad nor does it lessen your faith or belief in God. Growing up in church, therapy wasn't a topic that was widely spoken about. Now, that I am older I see the value it has. I am able offer grace and kindness to others who have experienced a similar situation to me and suggest a path that would aid in their journey. Sometimes all it takes is for someone to know that you care and love them. Today, I am the healthiest I've ever been and I credit a huge portion of it to seeking out therapy.

As a young girl, I was privileged to live in innocence. Looking back, I can see how my parents sheltered me from different hardships that have taken place in our family. They were the most influential people in my life. They were my heroes. You always believe your hero would be with you, never does it cross your mind that one day they will be gone. This is the reality of my life. My mom was my best friend. A true character that instilled in me solid morals and values that I have carried with me even throughout adulthood. These same values of integrity, kindness, and love I wish to spread to any individual I come in contact with in my life. Parental loss is something no individual is truly prepared for. There are no courses on sudden death you can take to prepare you for losing someone you're so close to. I had just begun the spring semester of my second year in college when my mom passed away. In attempts to process the reality of my new life, my mental health began to decline. My grief and sadness drove me into a deep depression to the point where I was physically unable to focus or work on anything. I had to take a medical leave from school to save my GPA. Days merged, time ticked on, and people continued living their normal lives while I stayed stuck in time. The home that was once filled with the savory smells of my mom's cooking was now filled with stale silence. I was suffering. That is until I began to ask for help. I knew to continue with my life and make the most of it, I had to make some changes. Therapy is a resource that has helped me in times when I felt lost and without hope. Fear of judgment and rejection kept me away from seeking a helping hand for guidance. One of the ladies in my church reached out to me one day and asked me a simple question. 'Would you like to talk?' Who knew this simple question would open up a huge world of emotions in me? I had been so consumed with my grief, as well as the well-being of others that I never took the time to express what I'd been feeling inside. After, talking to her I felt such a release. It was as if a part of that burden of heaviness began to lift off of me. In that moment I knew this was something I needed to continue to pursue. This is what therapy is about. It is simply working through the emotions you feel to have more control over the way they affect you. One message I would like to share in my community is simply this. Therapy is not bad nor does it lessen your faith or belief in God. Growing up in church, therapy wasn't a topic that was widely spoken about. Now, that I am older I see the value it has. I am able offer grace and kindness to others who have experienced a similar situation to me and suggest a path that would aid in their journey. Sometimes all it takes is for someone to know that you care and love them. Today, I am back in college and will be graduating with my bachelor's degree in the next two years. This wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for someone loving and helping me. Now, I wish to offer that same love and help to anyone I meet.

As a young girl, I was privileged to live in innocence. Looking back, I can see how my parents sheltered me from different hardships that have taken place in our family. They were the most influential people in my life. They were my heroes. You always believe your hero would be with you, never does it cross your mind that one day they will be gone. This is the reality of my life. My mom was my best friend. A true character that instilled in me solid morals and values that I have carried with me even throughout adulthood. These same values of integrity, kindness, and love I wish to spread to any individual I come in contact with in my life. Parental loss is something no individual is truly prepared for. There are no courses on sudden death you can take to prepare you for losing someone you're so close to. I had just begun the spring semester of my second year in college when my mom passed away. In attempts to process the reality of my new life, my mental health began to decline. My grief and sadness drove me into a deep depression to the point where I was physically unable to focus or work on anything. I had to take a medical leave from school to save my GPA. Days merged, time ticked on, and people continued living their normal lives while I stayed stuck in time. The home that was once filled with the savory smells of my mom's cooking was now filled with stale silence. I was suffering. That is until I began to ask for help. I knew to continue with my life and make the most of it, I had to make some changes. Therapy is a resource that has helped me in times when I felt lost and without hope. Fear of judgment and rejection kept me away from seeking a helping hand for guidance. One of the ladies in my church reached out to me one day and asked me a simple question. 'Would you like to talk?' Who knew this simple question would open up a huge world of emotions in me? I had been so consumed with my grief, as well as the well-being of others that I never took the time to express what I'd been feeling inside. After, talking to her I felt such a release. It was as if a part of that burden of heaviness began to lift off of me. In that moment I knew this was something I needed to continue to pursue. This is what therapy is about. It is simply working through the emotions you feel to have more control over the way they affect you. One message I would like to share in my community is simply this. Therapy is not bad nor does it lessen your faith or belief in God. Growing up in church, therapy wasn't a topic that was widely spoken about. Now, that I am older I see the value it has. I am able offer grace and kindness to others who have experienced a similar situation to me and suggest a path that would aid in their journey. Sometimes all it takes is for someone to know that you care and love them. Today, I am back in college and will be graduating with my bachelor's degree in the next two years. This wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for someone loving me. Now I wish to offer that same love to others.