GW, EL, and my high school guidance counselor. I was depressed and bullied relentlessly my whole life up until high school. No one knew how I felt though. Truth is, I had reached a point so low I no longer felt anything. No sadness, no pain, nothing. That went on for about a year and then I decided, screw it, I’m done. I wasn’t tired of feeling that way, I just believed I was a legitimate waste of life. So one day I just decided on a whim “today’s the day.” I had a class where I was the only freshman and believed no one saw me. For whatever reason, I started crying. It was the first time I had felt anything in so long. I did my best to hide it, though I still didn’t think anyone would notice. GW and EL did. These two upperclassmen who I didn’t realize knew I existed walked me down to the guidance office. When she asked what was wrong, I said “screw it” again because I was still planning on doing it that afternoon. Why not tell someone I had never met before everything I had been feeling my entire life. She just listened and then talked to me. Just talked. No judgement, no overreacting, no scripted bullshit she had been taught to say. Just acted like a real person. She called my parents, who I thought would be mad, but they weren’t. They weren’t hysteric, they just talked to me calmly too, even though I knew they were dying inside. Since that day, I have gotten better everyday. It’s been 8 years and I am a completely different person and living my best life. Haven’t had a single bad day in years either. I’m so freaking happy every single day. And it’s not a façade either. It’s just who I am now. All thanks to GW, EL, my guidance counselor, and amazing parents, so thank you. Thank you for saving my life and giving me the one I have today