You Are Worthy

• Jorja Brennan, Grade 10
• Short Story
• 2021

“It's a pain I have never felt before. The type of pain someone could not even imagine. I am lost and drifting further and further away from reality by the second. Not many people have the opportunity to feel like this, they are the lucky ones. Although there's no physical pain, there is so much pain on the inside it is making me believe otherwise.”

These are the thoughts going through his head as people ask, "What's wrong? What has happened? Or has someone hurt you?"

He always answers with the usual answer of: “Yeah of course I'm okay, just having a rough day, thank you for asking...”

He knows the real answer and it is not even close to what actually comes out of his mouth. What he should say is: “I'm really struggling at the moment and I really need to talk to someone but I don't know how to express how and what I'm feeling.”

He’s confused with himself...he's a teenager who is going through changes. The reality is that not enough people talk about mental health and it really takes a toll on the people we care about the most. It's a common thing, but not common enough apparently. How common does it have to get before people start to realise how big of a problem mental illnesses are and can be?

This is the speech of a young boy who on the outside, is the happiest person you could meet. He has friends, a girlfriend, money and everything a happy person should have. You never know who could be struggling. Support and be kind to everyone.

After the teacher read this out to the class, kids got the help nobody knew they needed. They were saved. You can be that reason in someone else's life just by being a good and honest person.
If you're the boy in your own scenario, you are loved, worthy and have a purpose.