In the past few weeks I have had a lot of meaningful conversations with the next wave of changemakers; individuals and groups of people ready to do good. I can’t help but feel like this mini-series was perfectly timed. Reflecting back on five years has shown me so many ways in which I have grown and changed both in the field of mental health and as an individual. As I begin to step into the role of mentorship, I’m extremely optimistic about how things will continue to change. I equally have so much more to learn and do, which I am also excited about.

But it makes me sentimental. Despite the amount of work left to do, I have seen hope grow more and more. I have seen people across the world step up to make their communities a better place. This collective action gives me hope and passion to continue this work. But today during a meeting I was asked “What gives you hope?”

Undeniably my friends, both the present and the past, have been my beacon of hope ever since each of them entered my life. I wrote an article for the Seattle Times a few months back and if you read that you should be aware that family is something I find extremely important. And if it wasn’t for my friend (more like a sister) Natalie, I don’t think I would have realized that family extends past our basic definition. Nat showed me at an early age what family really looks like. And ever since, I have found a family in many individuals that I have met in my life so far.

In November of 2021, I was baptized. I remember waking up feeling oddly nervous. One of my closest and best friends Daniela picked me up that morning, and the very moment I got in her car I wanted to cry happy tears. She looked ecstatic to watch the day unfold, it made me emotional just seeing her excitement for me. We arrived at church a little late compared to everyone else and I remember being in awe of how filled it was. Part of my baptism was sharing my testimony or life story. I stood in front of some of my closest friends that morning watching them watch me with tears of joy in their eyes. I never felt more loved than that moment.

My friend Clara was the one who inspired me to do this mini-series, she was also the one who planned a surprise party after my baptism, where she gave me one of the most meaningful gifts I have ever received. She handed me an envelope of a bunch of mini letters from my friends on campus. Not only that, she got two of my closest friends from home to write me a letter. In Nat’s letter to me, she said “Seika’s relationship with her faith will forever be my beacon of hope… Out of every award she’s won, every title she’s earned, and every life she’s changed, Seika developing a system of faith is the accomplishment I’m most proud of her for.”

I choose to share this story with you because the point is centered on love. When you have people in your life that love you and support you in finding the things that you love, you found a family. I know it is cheesy, but love truly goes the distance. And while this world becomes a boiling pot of hate, I truly believe that we are left with the choice to either add more hate or to take the risk and love more.

Though personally, I don’t find it that risky anymore. I know that is a very privileged and lucky thing to say. But I haven’t always felt loved. Being vulnerable is difficult, but our friendships should not be a matter of performance - something that Natalie reminded me of this past winter. Over an emotional phone call she told me “I’m not proud of you if these accomplishments come at such a steep price, the handful of lives you may impact doesn’t mean anything if it comes at the cost of your happiness”. Nat and I view a lot of things differently, but that’s probably what makes us good friends. I’m a workaholic at heart, I have my handful of flaws and barriers to work through. To have a friend that cares enough to talk sense into me while I go into overdrive is something I am beyond grateful for. To have a friend like Nat that cares about my happiness more than my ability to produce quality work makes me feel like I’ve won in life. I’m lucky that Nat is not the only one. Something my friend Anabel once told me was “that even if you stopped your research, your work, your sharing, etc, you would still be seen and still be loved.”

I know that if I closed the curtains on everything, I could turn around and still be loved. And that is the most emotional thing I have ever and will probably ever experience. As someone who still struggles in sharing their “life story” with people, my friends give me hope. I’m not sure if I will ever be able to give the full story, and I doubt anyone feels like they can. And while I know my friends would be there for me if I stopped this work, I equally know they would never let me do that because of how much I love it. Great friends encourage you to be better than where you are today.

If I had to give one piece of advice to anyone entering the field of mental health, I would say to make sure you don’t neglect yourself and surround yourself with people that see you for more than what you do. While you begin to devote your life to the livelihood of others, you cannot backtrack on your own wellbeing. Equally, the courage that it takes to work in this field is beyond admirable. Your ability to step into a fragmented field of opinions, confusion, and chaos is admirable. But we all come into the field of mental health for our friends, family, and younger selves. And we shouldn’t forget that. Love the people that love and support you, and love them greatly.

Despite how things can change in the future I’m grateful for the people who are in my life, and for the people who have been in it. So thank you to the ones that sing Runaway Baby with me during every car ride, to the ones that make me cry with every bouquet of tulips I see, thank you to the ones who buy brown sugar shaken espressos, thank you to E4, thank you to the one who ran alongside me during my track career, to the one that got me into coffee, to the one’s who always need a cough drop at church, to the one’s in my bible studies, and to all of my friends and family.

You are my hope, you inspire me, and you are the reason why this work is important.

Much Love.

The people along the way: Week 3 - Friends

The people along the way: Week 4- Jana and 312

The people along the way: Week Two - Mr. Wood