As a young man, in a world where being open about mental health issues is stigmatized (especially for men), creating honest conversations around these topics is so important. I hope my story inspires others to contribute their voices to this conversation, and together we can take control of our mental health.

A small ten year old girl is sitting at her desk. She is shaking. She has two pencils ready just in case she runs out of lead. For three days she has been studying for this science test. She knew just about everything by heart when her mom quizzed her.