Moving Mountains or Learning to Climb
Some things in life have more significance than others. Some people in this life will move mountains and others will learn to climb mountains. What we do to add to our society and make change in our community holds a long-lasting influence especially for those who want to learn to climb.
October 19th, 2023 was not just a day of dissemination, but rather the beginning of a new chapter. Standing amongst The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia chief executive officer, division department chiefs and board of trustees was something not necessarily on my radar, but definitely gave me a broader insight into the impact of communication.
Backing up into how I, a 17-year old high school student, stood in front of multi-million dollar donors to the leading children’s hospital in the country of which is recognized around the world, was no simple pathway. But rather, the lessons built up to that moment, and the momentum established reveals how dedication drives and creates change.With what started as a motivation to recover, I created SOULRecover: a fundraiser for eating disorder research at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Originated as an avenue to inspire others and hold myself accountable, noticeable changes needed to be made in a world where diet culture fuels the fire and disease manifests within the toxicity of social media.
My experience of crafting personal thoughts, ideas and setting forth a way for others to feel connected was something I will never forget. The effects of bringing a difficult topic to the surface demonstrates how writing can bring people together. While the night of recounting some of my greatest defeats and intimate struggles was just a few hours long, notably, it is the resilience that I reflected on that was my main takeaway.
The opportunity to use my voice, my power and my experience to help others means more to me than I could ever imagine. During the writing process, I was faced with some difficult emotions as memories emerged. I felt that revisiting such tender moments could set me back. I realized that it is the pivot, however, that makes the change. It is the rebound instead of the fall down. It is the six fall downs that hurt but the seventh time getting up that matters most.
Starting with a blank document, I was at a loss for words. For a disease that impacted my life in every way possible, I had kept my journey to myself and within my close-knit family. It was the point of hitting a plateau that something finally clicked. Then did I understand that when people suffer alone, the stigma gets stronger.First handedly, I have experienced the struggle to fuel my own body and deal with conflicting voices in my head. And while the disease manifests differently for everyone, a struggle is a struggle and life is to be lived and not torn apart by the surrounding silence.
The realization of starting the conversation around a highly stigmatized disorder took time, but also created a sense of urgency to speak up and act. It was through the process of vulnerability, did I gain a sense of community through discomfort. Writing has always been a valuable factor in my life. Starting by journaling, I was able to get thoughts from pen to paper. Writing has taught me so much in life, thus far. I have learned to compile my ideas and feelings effectively and learned that opening up to others creates a community.
With that community, where a conversation is harvested, the desire for change is not only heard, but felt equally. Exploring the potential of one’s self is vastly commemorated by the art of literature and ways of communication delivery. To me, writing is not just a means of reflection, but is also an aid in building a sense of community. My experience is something I would not wish on anyone to feel, to see a loved one struggling or to bear the repercussions of losing the person you know to a ravenous brain disorder. Despite this, I would not be the person who I am today. I am not just a peer or friendly face in the community, but I continue to grow and be a change-maker.
