Growing up, I was told to stay strong, but no one really tells us what that means. For a long time, I thought strong meant acting like everything was fine, even when it wasn't. There were times when I was stressed about what I would do in my life for school or work. I'd find myself just laughing it off instead of just saying something about it. It led me to feeling alone and lost and what to do when others around seemed so sure. I didn't want it to seem like I wasn't strong or sure of myself. Staying silent didn't make me stronger. It made me feel more alone. I've learned that if I'm carrying something heavy, I don't have to hold it by myself. In fact, the more I've reached out to people around me when things are bothering me, the closer we've become. We've hung out more, talked more, and became easier to break out of isolation. Instead of stressing about my future as much as I was, they reminded me that I had to take it one day at a time, and they encouraged me to explore more hobbies and interest, talk to someone, because strength isn't silence. Strength is honesty. In letting it out, it's taken me time to understand that it's okay to not be okay.