"My name is Zachary Joseph Marek. I am currently a senior at Westview High School. I still struggle with anxiety and depression to this day with occasional suicidal thoughts. I sometimes leave people on read because I don’t know how to respond and I am afraid of saying the wrong thing. Mental health wasn’t really talked about in the past but my mom has been trying to be more supportive ever since she found out how much depression really was affecting me. Even though she doesn’t always know how to respond, she at least tries to listen to my problems. Westview has a very encouraging and open campus that allows people to open up to others. The biggest thing that has helped with coping is talking to other people. I began to go to a therapist after going through a rough time. Friends and family are my biggest supporters. “The darkest nights make the brightest stars”. This quote has stuck with me for most of my life. No matter what you’re going through, even if you can’t see any light, you just gotta keep going. Because once you’re out of the darkness, you realize how beautiful the light truly can be."