When I’m not feeling down or stressing over a deadline that I could have potentially procrastinated in,  I like to keep myself busy. Of course watching re-runs of Parks and Rec. is always an option, but after a few episodes, it just makes me feel bored and guilty. I find it better to use my time doing things that somehow benefit me. Without a doubt, this is what I do to suffice this encroaching boredom.

            First on my list is something I picked up two years ago and just recently picked back up, French. I think the reason I first picked this up is because I’ve always had an interest in learning different languages and since I hope to become an International Business Lawyer, I decided to retrieve this skill. 

The second skill I decided on came from admiration to those who are ambidextrous. Although this sounds completely absurd, I’ve been trying my best to trace through dashed ABC papers that are given to kindergarteners to help with penmanship. I can rest assured knowing that this skill is definitely going to help me out if I’m ever in a predicament that doesn’t allow me to use my right hand.

Third is what I find most useful even when I feel down and overwhelmed. I really enjoy taking long walks with my mom. While we’re walking we vent over issues that we have and just try to be there for each other. This also really helps when just wanting to change the scenery were inclined to, our homes.

Lastly, I’ve really enjoyed cooking new recipes for my family and I to try. Whether it be on YouTube or TikTok, I’m always finding new recipes for us to try. Of course when things go south, there’s nothing a delivered dominoes pizza won’t fix. 

The secret to curing this boredom is doing things that you love and are fond of. When when you’re bored always remember that there are so many things you can learn from, and also help you. 

As a child, there’s only so much one can do. We have no choice but to accept that we are never in control of what’s happening; in fact, many of us were too naïve to ever even think of the possibility in which we are in control. Throughout these years, she never really knew what or how things worked, within her childhood, all she did get to know was nothing more than her very own feelings and emotions.

Her parents are very kind and driven individuals. They both share a deep passion for work because it was implemented at a very young age. As far as she can remember, she too grew fond of it and soon after the age of four played the -at the time super cool- role of a promoter at a family business they owned at a local flea market. Because of this workaholic-like structure, her family as a whole became stressed. This and many more “adult” topics arose a series of altercations between her parents. Of course, for young, little Laura, this meant to distract her little brother with blasting music meanwhile she cried at a corner where he wouldn’t notice.

Throughout her early years of school, she had been the main target for a cheap laugh. Anything you can possibly think of, she’s pretty sure she has been called before. After that, she had no more room in her brain to think of anything other than these incidents all together. It felt as if every step she took was out of place. As she grew older, she learned that the anguish and disgust felt within herself were very much validated and were far from wrong. Up until the medial part of last school year was she granted the opportunity to share her story as a whole, along with other problems, for the very first time. It was through her former English teacher that she entered the first step of recovery.

Although this newfound path ensured success, she was filled with this sense of uncertainty and fear of neglect. This became the problem when diagnosing her with Mild Depressive Disorder and continued until she forced herself into a hospital for the fear of her own actions. After her discharge, she became quieter about her feelings because it felt as though they either did not matter or were always misunderstood. 

Later then she received monthly therapy and was visited twice a month by a social worker in order to learn coping mechanisms and really heal. Her parents too were educated about what was going on and helped her in whatever way possible. It was until then that she took this blindfold, that she had created herself, off and really looked at the bigger picture. There were all these people gathered that love and care for her deeply. The misunderstanding was all of her own, and this helped take a major part in helping overcome that fear and take time for herself this past summer break.

She knew then that her life was worth living because of all these reasons. She is worthy of living because she’s been independent since such a young age. She is worthy of living because being bullied created confidence in loving herself. She is worthy of living because she chose to rise above “scary” or “crazy” words like Mental Disorders. All of this makes her so much more worthy of living, and she hopes others can find their reasons too.