Remote Wellness Blog—SA Student-run
There are moments in life that crack us open in quiet, unexpected ways. Not with loud drama, but with a single moment: a tone, a glance, a space that suddenly feels too unsafe to breathe in.
That was me not long ago. One moment I was trying to show up, trying to contribute, and the next, I was completely overwhelmed. As a hospitality student, I’ve had to navigate more than just assignments; real-life kitchen experiences come with real-life emotions. What should have been a normal interaction left me shaking, nauseous, and retreating to the bathroom just to breathe. It wasn’t about what was said or how it was said; it was about feeling small. About being made to feel like I had no right to speak up, no right to shine.
As an introverted student, I already struggle with being invisible. I tend to observe more than speak. I give my best quietly, from behind the scenes. But that doesn’t mean I’m not passionate or capable. Still, there are people who will see your quietness as weakness and try to use it against you.
That Friday, it hit me hard. I felt humiliated. It felt like everything I had worked so hard to become; confident, growing, and improving; had suddenly been stripped away by one moment of unnecessary power play. I ended up crashing emotionally. I couldn’t even eat. I didn’t want to be around anyone. I felt like disappearing.
But even in that low place, I still had me.
I reached out to my family, and they reminded me: just because someone doesn’t see your worth or is intimidated by working with you doesn’t mean it’s not there. My body wasn’t betraying me; it was protecting me. Telling me to pause. To feel. To remember that this one moment didn’t have the power to define me.
The next day, I chose to reset. I woke up, opened the curtains, and started to declutter my space, physically and emotionally. I did my own little “Sunday visit,” the way I used to do at home. I played something soft, peeled some fruit, and simply existed. It felt like peace slowly returning to my body.
To anyone who’s ever felt like this, I see you.
If you are a student trying to do your best on a tight budget, trying to build your future while quietly battling internal fears and external pressures, this is for you. If you’ve ever felt like your efforts were being dismissed, like someone was using your silence against you, you are not alone.
Here’s what I’m learning as I continue to show up for myself:
1. Protect Your Peace
Some environments are not safe for your growth. That doesn’t make you weak; it makes you self-aware. Know when to step back and take a breath.
2. Being Visible Doesn’t Have to Be Loud
You can take up space in your own way, through writing, through how you carry yourself, through kindness, and through quiet confidence. Your presence matters.
3. Emotions Are Messengers, Not Enemies
That breakdown wasn’t a failure. It was a signal, a reminder that I needed care, softness, and stillness. Not punishment or shame.
4. Stay Focused on Your Bigger Picture
I may be a broke student today, but I’m also someone building something bigger, piece by piece. This is just one chapter, not the whole book. This experience reminded me that I was never meant to stay small. Yes, I’m soft-spoken. But my voice still matters. Yes, I’m introverted. But I still belong in every room I walk into. Yes, I’m young and still learning, but I refuse to be treated as less than.
To anyone feeling the same: Do not let one moment, one person, or one setback convince you that you are less. You are more. And every day you choose to try again; even with shaky hands and a bruised heart, you win. Keep going.
