Flourish Stories
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 are part of a traveling exhibit that will be showcased at various locations throughout the month of 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 ... ”
What's Flourishing On Campus?
Thank you to all of our partners
Sponsors: Office of Student Engagement, Stanford Arts, Vaden Health Services, and Well-Being at Stanford
Campus partners: 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, and Weiland Health Initiative
Student organizations: Cardinal Recovery, On Call Cafe, PEERs, Student Mental Health Outreach, The Bridge Peer Counseling Center, and Wellness Buddies
Flourish Together Event Performers: Edwin Mbewe, Jack Cowan, Jason Miranda, Luciano Arroyo, and Mohamed Elhassan
You Are Not Alone
As you read your fellow students’ stories, reflect on how far you have come in your own mental health journey and what you have realized about yourself along the way. Remember that you are not alone and there are resources at Stanford ready to support you.