I have been a perfectionist for as long as I can remember. This served me in so many ways that were beneficial for so long that this became second nature. I always was a teacher's pet in school, doing every extra credit assignment possible to get near perfect grades, staying after practices if I had a “bad day”, and needing leadership positions in every extracurricular activity I participated in. However, this perfectionism in combination with other life events allowed me to hyper fixate on my body image and comparison with others, and increased a desire to be in a perfect body.

Hi everyone! My name is Samantha Hagenbush, but everyone calls me Sam or Sammi. I am a junior at Penn State Berks in Reading, PA. I am a Kinesiology major with a Psychological Sciences minor. I play both basketball and tennis at Berks and I am a heavily involved student. Before reading my story, I want you to ask yourself the following question: How can you be an advocate for others if you aren’t an advocate for yourself?

I’m 28 years old. I was once a student-athlete playing Division I lacrosse at Manhattan College. It was truly a dream come true - one I never imagined achieving. Never playing club lacrosse or having the opportunity to showcase my talents because of constant injury, somehow, someway, I luckily and thankfully found myself at MC. Entering college as a fresh 18-year-old girl, never being on my own, I had no idea what was coming. My entire life up until my freshman year of college, I made it my mission to be someone of strength and guidance for my friends and family. Because I was so invested in supporting others, I left no time to support myself.

If you’re reading this and you are struggling or in a dark place, and you don’t see a way out, I’m living proof to tell you IT GETS BETTER. The only way out is through. You are loved, and you matter so don’t ever lose sight of that.

I have been playing competitive softball since I was ten years old. I was blessed with great coaches and a great support system. As I grew up, my self-confidence decreased and I found myself comparing my abilities to everyone else on the field with me. As time went on I found myself in a deep depression. To the point where I didn’t want to play softball again. This changed the way I played in a negative way.

We all deserve to wear that gold medal around our necks. Everybody has different stories, and we all have different backgrounds, but everybody has had to endure something to get to where they are. Be proud of it. Refuse to let people invalidate your accomplishments. There is a reason that they are YOURS.

Hi my name is Uzma but I go by Uzi. My pronouns are she/her/hers. I'm 19. I'm gonna be a sophomore in college soon, and my mental health story began when I was about 6ish when I lost my first grandparent and uncle. I was too little to understand what happened or what death was but I knew I was upset and it was hard to cope with it. I was also sorta abused by the nannies growing up and family members of the family growing up.

Athletes have a driving power within themselves that makes them compete and fight for what they love doing. I never thought lacrosse could be something taken away from me but, as I grew older my body proved me wrong. Being an athlete with chronic pain is a constant daily battle. You compete on the field, but at the same time you are also fighting against a body that is failing you. This physical and mental battle is constant, but it does not mean you can’t live a fulfilling life.

I have been playing lacrosse for the majority of my life. It’s a difficult sport requiring extreme amounts of concentration and skill. As a goalie, I put myself in danger every time I step in goal but I love it. I love the feeling of making a save, the rush of energy you get from throwing yourself in front of this tiny yellow ball hurling at you at 70-80 miles per hour. It’s my favorite thing in the world. It’s how I find happiness.

Being a student-athlete was equally the best, and worst time of my life. As I’ve reflected and processed through my journey, I recall countless memories of deep joy, but I also recall moments of excruciating pain. And you know what? God has truly been faithful through it all.