I’ve always been determined to earn my degree, but mental illness turned the journey into a battle. This time, with the help of CSI’s mental health resources, I’m finding the strength to keep going.
By: T.R. Jamaleddine
I first entered CSI in 2017 with the complete and utter hope of graduating in four years with a bachelor’s degree in psychology — how ironic that was. My transcript reads like ‘what’s what’ of all the ways that didn’t happen, with a struggling mind that needed help but wasn’t getting it at the forefront. Mental health is a journey that I would go on, showing exactly what happens when it is ignored in college.
Untreated mental health can surely be one of the loneliest paths to walk, but we are not alone. Across campuses worldwide, there are students like me who have fallen through the cracks of mental health illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, and addiction, to name a few. This time, however, returning to CSI feels different; with students gaining access to real resources, I finally have a chance to finish what I started.
It’s not easy to admit you need help, to realize there’s a justification for your struggles. It didn’t make sense how I could go from being determined to being defeated by courses I had every reason to handle. My transcript isn’t just a record of grades; it shows how ignoring mental health can make you disappear from college altogether.
CSI has transformed what could have been a “lost cause” for me into a real chance to return and finish my degree. With resources like expanded counseling, student support groups, and initiatives that make mental health services visible and accessible, the path feels different this time. These aren’t just optional extras of campus life—they are lifelines that can mean the difference between dropping out and finally crossing the stage at graduation.
Mental health almost ended my CSI journey, but now it marks the beginning of a student who just needed time, acceptance, and the right support to make it.
I’m so proud of you to not only go back to college but to avail yourself of their resources concerning mental health. And cherry on top joining the college newspaper as a feature writer. I think you have found your niche.