This college student is someone I am very close to and proud of. She recently started a blog where she is currently posting her photo journal to help spread awareness about anxiety and depression. Her work has inspired me and helped me immensely, so I can't wait for her to share her story with us. Keep reading to find out how Mackenzie Hartwell launched her blog and what she is planning for the future.

Name: Mackenzie Hartwell

Age: 21

Education: CMU (FIRE UP CHIPS) Business Communication & Event Planning

First of all, this is such a treat to be able to interview you and get a closer look at the project you’ve been doing! Can you give us an overview of what this project consists of?

The project I recently started is a photo journal showcasing what anxiety and depression looks like. Then I also put a personal excerpt with the photo about my struggle with anxiety and depression. This is just my first project, I plan to start some more along the way!

Let’s talk a little bit about your education background for just a second. Does this project or your blog in general have anything to do with your college major or was it more personal motivation that led you to start this?

So it’s really good to have content to be able to share with employers. Basically being able to show that you can write and have your own voice when you write. HOWEVER, I did not start this blog primarily for that. Yes, it’s great because I do have the chance to show employers both my writing and photography, BUT I did it for myself. I started this in hopes of being someone that other people struggling could relate to. If you look at my blog, my tagline is “educate & advocate”, that is my ultimate goal with my blog overall. However, for this project specifically, I want to be a voice for the people who are afraid to speak up. I want those struggling to know that they are not alone.

Rumor has it you’re planning on bringing this message to our campus at Central Michigan University. How do you plan to continue to share your story here on campus?

My plan is to start a Semicolon Project here at CMU. If you’re not familiar, the semicolon project is basically just suicide awareness. And since anxiety and depression are such gateways to suicide I thought it would be an appropriate group to start. Recently CMU got rid of their counseling services on campus for students, and with anxiety and depression being as prevalent as they are, I thought creating an RSO for people to find a “safe haven" and find people who can relate to them would be very beneficial for this campus.

Now, focusing on your blog. What was the biggest challenge of starting your blog- technology and design wise. Was it a simple process or was there a lot of time involved?

The design process was fun actually, but that’s probably because I like doing those things. However, I did not know about Wordpress.com until a dear friend of mine (you) showed it to me. And I’m so glad you did, because it helped me get my message out there.

You do the photography by yourself for your blog posts. Is photography something you are interested in pursuing outside of your blog?

YES. I love photography. I have had a passion for taking pictures of just about anything for years now, but now I have found my love for photographing people as my subjects. It gives me another way to express my creativity. I have a photography page on Facebook now (Kenz Hartwell Photography, check it out), and I have been able to showcase a majority of my portfolio on there. I used to want to be a photographer, but I found other interests so this is something I like to do in my free time or as a side job.

Now in terms of this specific project. I am so inspired by your willingness and desire to share your story of anxiety and depression to help others. What was the biggest personal challenge when starting this? Is it something you’ve been wanting to do for a while or did you feel an urgent need to share your story?

I have been wanting to do this for awhile now. But getting enough courage to actually go through with it was the hardest part. A lot of people that I surround myself with have no idea that I struggle with anxiety and depression so for me to post on a lot of social media accounts about it was a big step. That’s another reason I wanted to start this project - to destroy this stereotype associated with these mental illnesses. I am a fun loving, outgoing girl which, according to this stereotype, means that I wouldn’t struggle with anxiety or depression. This is why stereotypes should have been left in the 1950’s. It’s 2017, so a smile can hide a lot. You don’t know as much as you think you know about people just by the way they dress or the way they portray themselves. Don’t judge a book by its cover.

I was extremely nervous people would view me differently, but I have gotten so much positive feedback from this project that made me much more secure in it. I am happy to be the voice for people who are scared to say anything. I want people to know that they are loved and that they should not feel like they are defined by their mental illness. MOST IMPORTANTLY, I want people to know that they are not alone.

You are such a great example of why I started this blog, and I know you’ve heard me say it a million times, but I love your passion and your drive to succeed. I want women, especially our age, to know that they are capable of creating a life they deserve. I think a big part of why so many of us hold back and settle for less is because of our anxiety and other mental illnesses. What advice can you give to people our age who are struggling with this right now?

FIGHT LIKE HELL. Do not let society or anyone else make you feel like you are less of a person for something that is out of your control. A big thing I learned in the past couple of years is that you cannot LOVE yourself if you HATE the experiences that shaped you. You have to own your story and own who you are. If someone has a problem with it, then that is their problem, not yours. Just be confident and work your ass off to get where you want to be. You are in control of your life, not anyone else. Own who you are.

You’re a junior right now, with so much life left ahead of you. What do you see yourself doing in five years? Is this project something you will continue working on and advocating for?

I hope to be still working on this project, along with other ones. I love to advocate and the more I am able to do that the better I feel about it. It’s quite a therapeutic thing for me to be able to do and I hope it helps someone else in the process. In five years I hope to be working for a company that I love. I hope to have found my place and found out what I want to be doing (because I still have no idea). It seems like a really long time away, but I’m sure it will sneak up on me. Until then, I’m just going to keep doing me and live in the moment, as cheesy as that sounds. I want to cherish and take advantage of the opportunities I have now because I will never be this young again. Sooner or later I’m going to have to know how to “adult”, but right now not so much, so I’m going to take this opportunity to do the things that make me happy.

Favorite show to binge watch on Netflix: Grey’s Anatomy (I’ve watched all seasons at least 4 times)

Favorite movie: Don’t really have one, depends on my mood. HOWEVER, action movies are the way to my heart.

Last book you read: Uninvited by Lysa Terkeurst

Beach or mountains: Can I have both?

Dogs or cats: DOGS FOREVER.