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NSU | Wellness > Mental Health

The Art of Being Here : Suicide Prevention Month

Jaiyanah Joyner Student Contributor, Norfolk State University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at NSU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

I’ve felt lonely for a long time.

I used to think it was because I was an only child,

Or perhaps because of traits I hated in myself,

Or because I felt like I had nothing in my life.

But I was super rich

Not in money, but in love.

I had friends who loved me,

And a parent who would put everything on the line for me.

I had so many things that I should have been able to look at and say,

“Wow, I’m lucky.”

And still, there was a part of my life where I wasn’t happy at all.

I spent a lot of time feeling like I was missing something,

Even when I couldn’t explain what that something was.

There were days when life felt more like,

“I just need to make it through the day,”

Than actually enjoying my day.

Looking back, I think one of the hardest things was that

I didn’t always know how to appreciate being here.

Now, I do.

I’m happy I’m here today.

I’m happy I get to wake up and experience another day.

I get to meet more people, make more memories,

Go more places, and learn more things.

I get to fail more.

It used to be something I beat myself up about,

But now I appreciate it.

I get to make the wrong decision and learn from it.

I get to embarrass myself. I get to change my mind.

I get to try something and be terrible at it.

I get to not know the answer yet.

I get to make mistakes that younger me would have been terrified of making.

I get to understand more.

There is still so much I don’t know about myself,

About other people, about the world,

And about what I want my life to look like.

There is still more for me to experience.There is still more room for me to grow.

But I needed to pour into myself.

I needed to give myself reasons to be excited about the next day.

I needed to stop waiting for my life to become something worth living

And realize that it already was.

And I don’t want to take that for granted anymore.

I’m blessed to see another day:

To experience more,

To fail more,

To understand more,

To love more,

To laugh more,

To change,

To grow,

To live.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please remember that reaching out for support is a

sign of strength. You are never alone, and there are people ready to listen.

Jaiyanah Joyner

NSU '29

Jaiyanah Joyner is a sophomore Political Science major at Norfolk State University from Virginia Beach, Virginia. She is passionate about advocacy, civic engagement, and learning about the experiences and perspectives of others. As a college student, Jaiyanah is always looking for opportunities to grow, connect with people, and learn something new.

Jaiyanah enjoys writing about lifestyle, identity, womanhood, college life, relationships, and the random questions that make her think. She considers herself a curious person who enjoys challenging ideas and looking at topics from different perspectives.

Outside of writing, Jaiyanah enjoys exploring new places, trying new things, learning about different cultures, and spending time with the people she loves. She is also involved in campus organizations and enjoys finding ways to connect with her community. After college, Jaiyanah hopes to pursue a career focused on public service and advocacy, where she can create opportunities for young people and make a meaningful impact in her community.