Personal Narrative: The Four Way Rotary Test

Every day I hear the phrase—”I want to kill myself.” After a hard test—”I want to kill myself.” After a long practice—”I want to kill myself.” After a cold lunch—”I want to kill myself.” I feel death and desperation becoming rooted in our society, and I grow discouraged. Depression, anxiety, and suicide figures grow at an unprecedented rate, while hate crimes against the disabled grow more and more vicious by the day. In these dark times, I think that the only way to return to a bright, utopian future is to begin to connect with one another. And with that sentiment, I reach the philosophy I would like to apply to the Four Way Rotary test. I personally believe that becoming educated and aware of mental illness is extremely important practice …show more content…
I can personally attest to this. Just in my short sixteen years, I’ve learned that living by this ideology can open people up to worlds of possibility. I first learned this on my middle school summer swim team. I always noticed a boy in the lane beside me. His name was Carter, and I could immediately tell he was different, from the way he talked, to the way he walked, to the way he swam. As an ten-year-old I was initially scared of different things. But over that summer, we began to talk, and I learned from his mother that he wasn’t different, he had autism. As I grew to know him I was never scared around him, I was never annoyed by him—he would always cheer me on, and congratulate me even when I lost. If I had never looked past the stigma that surrounded him, I never would have become friends with him—subsequently missing out on one of the best friendships in my life. Without a doubt, thanks to this philosophy, I’ve been able to build some of the best relationships of my …show more content…
Throughout history, some of the smartest, most hardworking, and most inspiring people have been afflicted with mental illness. Everyone knows Einstein, inventor of the emc2 equation, developer of the nuclear bomb, and brilliant quantum physicist. But not many know about his crippling depression and anxiety that plagued him throughout his adult life. Without his therapist and extensive medication, Albert never would have survived his high school years. By saving his life, humanity greatly benefited. However, this doesn’t just apply to brilliant mathematicians—every life that can be saved, either from depression, eating disorders or suicide is beneficial to the world. Every life is meaningful, and should be