In a world filled with hurt and pain, it can feel impossible to find a way to heal. But even in the chaos, it’s vital that we pause
—to rest, to reflect, and to revive ourselves so we can become the best version of who we are meant to be.
We fight. We scream. Yet too often, it feels like no one hears us.
That’s why we must take a moment, not just to breathe, but to truly think. To understand what we can do better, how we can grow, and how we can help others understand us in return.
Even in the darkness, even in the hurt, we must search for that small token of life—that spark—that leads us to healing from within.
As people of color, as those who have been hurt, as humans, we carry scars from being burned time and time again. But this is our time to rise, to dust ourselves off, and to stand strong once more. And when we can’t stand alone, we must find those who will lift us up until we can.
Yes, we can heal. The scars may remain, etched beneath the surface, but they do not define us.
They remind us.
We will grow brighter. We will rise higher.
And we will come back stronger than ever.
—Briana Clymer, Kirkwood student