Flourish Stories (2024)
We are honored to present the stories of Stanford students who have courageously shared their experiences on finding hope, healing, resilience, and joy through their mental health journeys. These Flourish Stories were part of a traveling exhibit showcased at various locations throughout May.
Learn how Stanford students have flourished through their mental health journeys.
Content Note
Some of the stories below include discussions of suicidal ideation or language that may be distressing. As you read each student's story, we encourage you to prioritize your own emotional well-being. Take a break from reading or seek support if needed. Remember, it's OK to not be OK.
Benjamin
“I use my breath to anchor me. Learning to meditate and live mindfully has allowed me to continue asking questions and continue being curious but in a way that’s productive and sustainable.”
Chase
“I let myself become obsessed with this idea of perfection, which gradually had me drifting away from things that brought me joy, all in the pursuit of productivity. So now, I try to seek joy as often as I can ...”
Cherrial
“Healing began when I realized, ‘Wait, I can’t run away from this; I have to run toward it. I have to confront my feelings to be able to heal them ... ’”
Emmie
“Looking back, I wish I could tell myself two things - that I will accomplish my dreams, even if they seem far-fetched and that I will get better and I deserve to feel good... I’ve come back stronger and better ... ”
Jaden
“At times I’ve found myself battling the fast-paced perfectionist kind of culture that I think a lot of students feel here. We are ambitious and we want to have an impact on the world. But slowing down is really important ... ”
Katya
“Rather than judging myself and feeling like I should be able to do it all, I've had to learn that, like mental health, self care looks different for different people... now when I feel myself spiraling, I try to remember that, and I pause to do something that brings me joy ... ”
Max
“If I could go back and tell my younger self something... I would remind myself that you can’t see the forest from the trees and that it’s healthy to reflect on the past, but living in the past is not ... ”
Samantha
“In the past I’ve felt that I didn’t really have the right to speak on mental health because I thought I’d been doing a good job of dealing with it on my own. What I’ve realized is... every mental health journey is different yet valuable ... ”
Thank you to all of our partners
- Office of Student Engagement
- Stanford Arts
- Vaden Health Services
- Well-Being at Stanford
- Confidential Support Team
- Counseling and Psychological Services
- Department of Athletics
- Physical Education and Recreation
- Office for Religious & Spiritual Life
- Office of Substance Use Programs Education & Resources
- Residential & Dining Enterprises
- Share Title IX Office
- Stanford Living Education
- Stanford Meeting Services
- Weiland Health Initiative
- Cardinal Recovery
- On Call Cafe
- PEERs
- Student Mental Health Outreach
- The Bridge Peer Counseling Center
- Wellness Buddies
- Edwin Mbewe
- Jack Cowan
- Jason Miranda
- Luciano Arroyo
- Mohamed Elhassan
