"Just Checking On You"

By: Amalya McKelvery, 7th Grade

​There are many people who struggle at home. There are many who are dealing with issues there too afraid to express or they feel like there's no one there to speak to. This leads them to think negative things, things they should not be thinking  -- and this can then lead to depression. So I believe in the power of being there for someone.

Just simply being there for someone can mean a lot. The person may feel trapped and not know what to do, they may not feel as if they can share their thoughts, they'll feel like they're all alone. This is when people can fall into; depression. When they start thinking they don't matter and no one cares for their situation.

So I remember earlier last year, when going to visit the doctor they gave me this test that was on paper. It asked simple questions like “What do you like to do?” and “Do you enjoy going outside?" I put the truth, “I like staying in the house on my phone” and “I like going out sometimes, but not always...," for example.

Later on, after they looked over my answers, they told me I might have ‘depression.' They mentioned that I should maybe start attending therapy in order to find out why I might have ‘depression.'

I honestly thought I might have it too. I often would cry at night or even in the shower?? And I never really knew why. Crying without a reason didn’t seem right at all to me, I always felt like I didn’t have anyone to communicate my problems and I realized...I just wanted people to listen to me. To check on me even when there wasn’t something really wrong, even if I wasn't showing it. Just to be checked on.

Many people need to be checked on. No matter what -- none of us know for sure what another person may be going through.

Once again, I believe in making sure a person is alright. I believe in checking on someone no matter the circumstance because simply saying “I'm here for you” could make a person smile, it could make them feel better about themselves in every way. Just by letting them know someone has their back.