College students come from all different walks of life, overcoming significant challenges to make it to where they are today.
Every day, tragic stories fill the news and social media platforms, leaving many people feeling scared and hopeless.
It is no secret that life can be overwhelming and gives more than its fair share of challenges to overcome. However, many students display their resilience and share their stories with the hope of inspiring others to keep going.
Social work senior Olivia Harris lost her mother to suicide during her freshman year of high school after her mother’s long battle with depression.
Harris shared her story and how it has shaped who she is today.
“This experience has shaped me into the person I have become by advocating for others suffering with a mental illness and advocating for suicide awareness,” Harris said.
Along with sharing about the tragic loss of her mother, Harris offered advice to others who are going through difficult times.
“There are so many things you still haven’t had the opportunity to experience, and you’re journey isn’t over yet,” Harris said. “Also, you are never alone, and there are so many people that you don’t even realize have your back.”
For Harris, becoming a social worker is a way to make a positive impact on those around her by offering hope and support to others.
“The passing of my mom definitely influenced my decision to further my education and choose to go into the field of social work,” Harris said.
At first glance, the majors that students choose may simply seem like just a good fit for them or something they’re passionate about. Looking a little more closely, there is a deeper reason for the career choices of many students.
Pre-dental senior Adrianna Drier shared about one of the hardest things she has had to overcome so far when she was involved in a life-altering skiing accident.
“It was New Year of 2021, and I actually broke my hip at my femur at the shaft in a ski accident,” Drier said. “And then I got a compression fracture on my back, so I had to reteach myself how to walk.”
According to Drier, the accident forced her to re-evaluate her college plans and left her questioning what to do with her life, unsure if she’d be able to walk again.
“Before I broke my leg, I was turning into a self-centered person. Everything in my head at the time was aimed toward me, going to Ferris, and I wanted this and that,” Drier said.”I was very selfish and close-minded, and my relationship with everyone around me, including my family, wasn’t exactly amazing.”
Drier reported that the accident changed her mindset drastically, offering a new perspective on life.
“When that accident happened, it definitely was a wake-up call for me, and it showed me who was there for me and who wasn’t,” Drier said. “It changed my perspective with people around me and with kindness, too.”
Drier offered advice to others going through hardships that seem too difficult to navigate.
“Hold onto your support system,” Drier said. “When that happened to me, my support system is what got me through it.”
There is a lot to learn about students just by sitting down with them and discussing their past and what they have overcome in order to make it to Ferris.
Many of them have abundant advice to offer to those who are struggling, as many of them have in the past.
Medical laboratory science fifth-year student Alli Mony shared about her experience with medical issues as a result of being born prematurely.
“I was born prematurely at 26 weeks, so because I suffered a brain bleed, I have cerebral palsy, so I spent like 15 plus years in physical therapy,” Mony said.
As a child, there were many experiences that she had to miss out on that most kids were able to participate in.
“I had to miss school,” Mony said. “And I couldn’t partake in certain sports because it was too hard on my body.”
Despite the significant challenges Mony faced as a result of her health issues, she has found a way to help inspire her to be a better person.
“I think it’s made me more empathetic. I feel for people more,” Mony said. “It’s just easier for me to understand what other people are going through, especially if they also suffer from things that prevent them from living life.”
Mony also shared about how such obstacles helped her in her career choice.
“I think always being around medical stuff has made me want to help others, so that definitely influenced me,” Mony said. “As well as I think I just had the mindset to prove everyone wrong and that I could be capable enough to go to college.”
Many Ferris students have faced a lot of hardship to get where they are today, and are excited to share their stories, hoping that they can help others make it through the obstacles they are facing.