Michelle Harrington

My name is Michelle Harrington and I am a rising Junior at the University of Rochester in Upstate New York. I am a double major in Psychology and Nursing. Between my nursing and psychology studies, I have developed a passion for mental health. In specific, the mental health of my fellow peers at UR has been especially eye-opening and shocking. In the short two years I have been at college, I have already struggled to overcome the stigmas that sabotage and condemn suffering students. While I have successfully overcame what I believe to be the worst of my mental illness, many other students on campuses across the country continue to rot in their own personal hells--too afraid to speak up, seek help, or take action. Their fears are not in their minds' either. I have witnessed disturbing acts of apathy, naivety, and hate towards victims of rape and the mentally ill. I have been a bystander to social shaming of rape victims and when I tried to speak out on the severity of the issue and the mental health implications that could ensue, my own friends dismissed me into a category of "unrelatable" and "over-emotional" psychotic patients. My illness does not define me and it does not change right from wrong. Writing for The Odyssey would be a wonderful opportunity for me to offer unique experience, advice, and support to struggling young adults. More than anything I would like to offer a new perspective on mentally ill students and how as a bystander, acquaintance or friend, you can make a positive difference in their life. In addition, this fall I plan to begin research with a renowned psychology professor at the University of Rochester and study social stigmas and student life more in-depth on our campus. This will allow me to share current research on numerous issues with real students in the here and now.