A couple of weeks ago, we attended a workshop focused on mental health. The goal was to grind the outer layer of a lotus seed, providing it with the right environment to grow. At first, some of us found it a bit silly; we’d never heard of a seed needing help to sprout.
Coincidentally, this workshop took place during one of my depressive episodes. I dreaded getting out of bed and felt like I wouldn’t contribute much that day.
Initially, I didn't give the activity much thought—until I realized how difficult it was. The seed wouldn’t budge, and we all found it hilarious as we scraped it against tiny pieces of sandpaper. Then it hit me: I was like the lotus seed, needing a specific environment to grow.
It had been a long time since a workplace acknowledged mental health, let alone dedicated a workshop to it. I still have my lotus seed; it reminds me of the importance of talking about mental health within our communities, especially when it's taboo.
Below is a photo from my bake sale, where I raised funds for SAF through my campus organization, Students for Immigrant Rights and Equality.
