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Stefi Atanaskovic Professor McKeever English 1010 25 September 2013 Word Count: A Changed Perspective I walked into my youth group with my sister by my side and sat in my usual place on a fluffy purple couch next to my best friend Sela. Amanda, our group leader, announced that the topic would be depression. I assumed we would probably just be praying for the misfortune of others dealing with depression. I wasnt completely ecstatic but I was happy wed be sending prayers to people who need it. Usually in youth group we talked about lighter more inspirational topics, and hearing that we would be getting into depression was a bit of a downer. However, I had no idea at the time that my life and judgment were soon going to be dramatically changed. After getting separated into groups, I proceeded to walk with my group into the churchs library. I wasnt thrilled with the people in my group either. I had my best friend, Conor, but he was the only one I really knew. Then rest of my group was a 22 year old that I hardly knew, a woman I had met the meeting before named Britt, a girl I knew from school named Erica, and I girl I had judged as being odd. She kept to herself, she wore glasses and had slightly greasy hair, stuttered when she spoke, and always was carrying a book about dragons. So as we began to pray, the girl with the dragon book cleared her throat. She asked if she was allowed to speak, and we all told her she was welcome. She started off by saying her name was Hannah and that she

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had depression. She burst into tears while we all watched with worried faces, unsure of what to do. Conor was the first to speak, and he asked her if she was okay, to which she responded no. After about 5 more minutes of her crying, she cleared her throat once more. She began by telling us about her summer. In June, her parents got divorced, and both of them were diagnosed with depression. In July, her siblings started to bully her. Her eldest sister even threatened her with a knife. In August, she herself developed depression. She told us how she loved school so much because it was the only place she could hide from her life. She didnt have any friends, but her teachers were always kind to her. Shortly after she started telling us how the kids at school bullied her as well, we were called back into the room we had originally been in to join in one last prayer before we went home. Usually when we return to this room I sit by Sela, just like when I walk in before the meeting starts. I sat next to Hannah this time. We said our prayers, and afterwards Hannah thanked me for sitting by her, and I thanked her for being so brave. The reason Im writing this is because Hannah changed my life. I started thinking to myself that what gave me the right to write her off as odd right away? Nothing, and I had no idea what she had gone through. Hannah taught me that I shouldnt judge so quickly, and that everyone deserves kindness, and that I shouldnt be so reserved to give it.