The week of March 21st through 25th is known at Michigan State University as Mental Health Awareness week. To bring awareness to the monolithic disease, the University puts on events during the week to aid and help people suffering from mental health issues. However, after taking a gander at these events the first reaction I have is: “Why are they all during class periods, and how is ‘community coloring’ and relaxing at a planetarium going to aid me in battling this bastard of an illness?!”

This was my first reaction, one of frustration and contempt, and only to add to this I then viewed an info graphic showing me that 50% of students rate their mental health at average or poor. If you’re thinking it stops there, you better put a helmet on because I’m gonna throw some more statistics at your head. From left to right on the info graphic it reads: 1 in 4 students reported having suicidal thoughts or feelings, and another 1 in 4 of young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 have a diagnosable mental illness.

It is tragic that we only designate a week to deal with the issue of mental health. The previous statistics illustrate that it will not take a week, or even a year for that matter to deal with this issue. So why in the name of God are we only dedicating a week to this epidemic (I call it an epidemic because it is one, if 1 in 4 people reported having Zika the whole damn United States would implode)?

We can not allow our youth to suffer from the continuous nightmare that is mental illness, we can not allow our future generations to go day to day wondering if this one will be the day they let their illness win (because we are all too familiar with the end result). It is not enough that we are just “aware.”

Many of you at this point are probably wondering: “Well if it is that bad why don’t people go get help with it.” Well that my dear reader is precisely the issue with this fickle illness, it makes you believe that no amount of therapy, no amount of talking, no amount of medication will alleviate the pain and agony. It is not enough for us to simply acknowledge that this exists, it is not enough to put on silly events.

What we really ought to do as a school, and a society as a whole is allow people who are plagued with this disease to come forward and share their pain, share their grief, and realize that it is not uncommon for these kinds of thoughts to occur. In fact as stated by the facts above it seems very prevalent.

Do not judge the friend who feels like there is no hope, do not deny another person’s pain based solely on the fact that you can not see it, do not label or vilify those who seem ‘crazy’ or ‘insane.’ Because inside their head there is a war raging that we could not even fathom. Their is a daily battle of choosing to get out of bed, of choosing to participate in daily life when it could just be easier to give up and leave it all behind.

For those of you fighting: do not quit. For those of you who feel hopeless and alone: you are not alone, because you may walk alone but I am right there with you. All you need to do is tell a friend, a mentor, or anyone caring enough to listen and they will join you in your fight. Do not feel afraid.

Signed,

A Fellow Fighter

Dear Mr. Stewart,

As I am writing this letter I am listening to your stand-up special: Unleavened. I was going to have some profound sentimental statement about watching it and writing to you but I couldn’t think of one (and on top of that I didn’t know how to start out this letter).

As the Daily Show came to a close I found myself needing to write you and inform you how much of an influence your show has had on my life. The first time I was introduced to The Daily Show was one day when my dad was watching it. I walked into the room and he told me to sit down and shut up. I asked him what the show was about and he retorted: “Just shut up and sit down will you?!” Sitting on the couch, confused and not knowing what to make of this new show I began to watch, and I as I watched this man named Jon scream, joke, and criticize the government, republican party, and hypocrisy of political affairs; I became infatuated. Every day after that first encounter I began to watch The Daily Show every day at seven o’clock and the following day, sometimes even watching the same show twice. Because this was during dinner time I pleaded with my parents to let me watch the show and eat dinner at the same time. This eventually led to a family affair with the whole family watching the show and eating dinner at the same time.

While we watched your show I would laugh, and regale in the subjects and events occurring  not only in the United States but around the world. Jokes would be made, political thoughts thrown around, and on commercial breaks my family and I would then discuss what had just happened on your show. It was during these commercial breaks where I found my voice in terms of political affairs. My dad would argue one point, and I another, and we would continue talking about it until the show came back on the air. Once the show was over my family would disperse, and I would go do my homework still pondering what had just occured on your show.

But you aren’t reading this to figure out my watching habits of your show, nor am I writing this to tell you about my watching habits. I’m writing this to tell you how much your show has meant to me over these years. Because of your show I found my passion for politics, and arguing about issues that seem idiotic and otherwise hypocritical. I am currently pursuing a major in Social Relations and Policy at James Madison college at Michigan State University, and  have taken the passion, humor, and commitment that I have witnessed on your show in order to make this world a better place.

Mr. Stewart,  I want you to know that your show has aided in the molding and shaping of an adolescent mind and helped influence my decision to major in public affairs. Watching you joke and laugh everyday about problems that were otherwise depressing, and upsetting, made me realize that if he can do it maybe I can dedicate my life to help solve these problems. You have been a beacon of hope when I get angry and think: “Fuck it I don’t care anymore, fuck it all.” But whenever I think these thoughts I watch your show and say to myself: “Damn, if he can do this for a living and go on the air everyday and make me laugh about issues I would otherwise yell and scream about, then maybe I can continue to go down this road.”

Mr. Stewart  I know you probably won’t even read this letter, but I had to let you and the world know that you and your show have meant something to me. While we haven’t met I feel like I owe you a thank you, you have been a mentor and a friend when everything else seemed hopeless. I miss gathering around the T.V. with my family to watch your show, and I  miss the humor, and release from the mountain of bullshit you provided.

That is it for this letter, and I hope Mr. Stewart you have finally had your moment of Zen.

With the utmost amount of gratitude,

Mitchell Timmerman

P.S

We, your viewership, miss you more than ever now that the orange one is winning in the republican race for the presidential nominee.

 

Well here it is, the moment you all have not been waiting for: my first blog post. Many bloggers would use this time to tell the readers a little bit about themselves, and I like to think that I’m not like most bloggers, but if you can’t beat em join em am I right? This first post WILB to tell you all about what you should expect from this here website.

As a young college student I find a lot of things to be interesting, fun, and important to share. From adventures on summer, spring, and winter breaks, to subjects I learn in and out of the classroom, and other events that happen during the school year. I find it important to allow people an opportunity to read and learn from not only my blunders and missteps, but also from events that I find to be very insightful and helpful in life.

What you can expect to read on this blog can range from a wide variety of writings. From fiction to non-fiction, current events to not so current events. I am excited to finally share some of the things I’ve written and some of my ideas and thoughts I have on the world around me. So please join me in this adventure and I hope this whole thing doesn’t crash and burn.

Great Thanks,

Titchell Mimmerman

P.S.

If you stick around long enough you may learn about what a WILB is and where to find them.