My freshman year, I was divided into two selves. Glennon Doyle would describe this as “the shown self and the hidden self,” (Untamed, p. 199). My shown self was a high achieving student out of high school with a large capacity for love and joy and fun. My hidden self was silently struggling with the recent divorce of my perfect parents.

That spring my friend from the University of Virginia had reached out to me about starting a campaign at the University of Florida that then became Love, a UF Student. I immediately started working on the project, building a team, reaching out to different organizations on campus to get connected, and asking people to write letters. All I could think about was creating a website to amplify student stories related to mental health and wellness. The goal of the project was to create a space where any student could go on, see a familiar face, read a familiar story, and know they are not alone.

While working on the project, I kept thinking about the website in terms of other people. “Students” will be able to connect and resonate with the website. How great will this be for “students” ranging from struggling to just having a bad day! What I didn’t realize is that “students” was me. I was silently struggling alone. I was falling short trying to keep up with the fast past and high-achieving environment that is UF.

Before this moment, I thought about my problems in comparison to others. Constantly thinking, “I am having a hard time, but someone else has it worse.”

This mentality is everything Love, a UF Student isn’t.

Love, a UF Student is a support system for all students.

Love, a UF Student is a place where real, vulnerable stories live and are cherished.

Love, a UF Student is a place to see that no matter where you are in your journey with mental health, there is someone walking that same path alongside you.

Love, a UF Student is where you read to get filled and write to fill others.

Through this platform, I am no longer divided. I live as one true self, finding courage in vulnerability, letting in those around me, embracing who I am and who I am becoming.

Love, a UF Student is for me. It’s for you. Step into the freedom of discovering you are loved, understood, and not alone.

Love, Emma, a UF Student