By: Minh Tran, Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences Well-Being Leader

As a Well-Being Leader, I serve as a guide, helping students manage stress and support their overall well being. However, it would be ironic to say that I myself struggle with my own well-being, but it is true; I am not shy to say I struggle sometimes. Being a Well-Being leader doesn’t make me “immune” or “cured” from these struggles, rather it makes me more aware of them in my own life and yours as well. It may seem counterintuitive to try to seek advice from someone who’s dealing with their own issues, but in reality, it just makes me more human because of it. In this blog, I’m choosing to be transparent about my own journey of well-being, and I hope this sheds light on how we all deal with our personal struggles and find ways to cope.

My struggles with Physical Well-Being:
This was something I struggled with the most as I navigated college and juggling work. It felt hard to prioritize my health over things I felt were dire, like my academics and extracurriculars. I would sacrifice sleep just to pull all-nighters to study for big exams. I would even sacrifice eating just so I could sleep longer before class. I struggled balancing life with my own physical well-being, as it felt like I needed to sacrifice one for the other. I am hyper-aware that I am not living my life as healthily or as physically as I could be, but this awareness is a step closer toward making a change.

My struggles with Emotional Well-Being:
Of all the things I’ve faced, my emotional well-being is the struggle I’ve carried most silently. It is an internal struggle that has been hard for me to face, as introspection can be difficult if you don’t understand yourself that well. I understand myself emotionally very well, but it is hard for me to let others in and share those internal feelings. When I have a problem, it is very difficult for me to open up, so I deal with my emotions on my own instead of with others. So a lot of the time, people find me very happy and optimistic because I keep the emotional side of myself hidden, which has hurt me more than it should.

My struggles with Social Well-Being:
This is something I have felt I have struggled with all my life. In social settings where I feel foreign or just not comfortable, I am always quiet and never speak up. I’d like to blame that on my introversion, but I feel like I am social when it is with the right people, not necessarily people I know. Small talk is something I feel like I could never do, and at times, I feel like my social well-being is at its lowest because I don’t have the confidence to socialize with people I am not already comfortable with. This is something I’d like to work on because I really do enjoy meeting new people, but it is hard to when you are at a social plateau in your life.

I hope my honesty and willingness to share personal struggles that are private to me can allow you to do the same and reach out for help, even if you think you can face your struggles alone. Everyone struggles, even the people you least expect. Make your struggles known even if you are scared to, because there is always a system of people out there who will support you in every which way.