Take care of yourselves and take care of each other: my parting words

Happy Monday, dear readers. That sentence holds a lot of weight for me because this is the last time I will be writing it in a column in this paper.

I have had the privilege of having a weekly platform for my opinions for the past two years. I remember reading the opinions section when I was a freshman and thinking about how incredible it would be if I got to write my own column.

Sophomore Fall rolled around, and I went to The Alligator’s open house, dripping with August sweat and carrying a freshly printed resume and cover letter in my equally sweaty hands. I was ecstatic a few days later to open an email telling me I was offered a spot. I knew it would be cool, but I never thought I would love it as much as I did.

I have changed my mind and changed it again since starting college. I have changed my major and my career path. I have changed political affiliations. I have changed my goals. I am not the same person I was when I walked onto this campus, and I am not the same person I was when I clicked “send” on my first column back in September 2016.

I would like to thank everyone who ever supported me, but also to everyone who ever challenged me. If no one ever challenges you, you won’t have the opportunity to grow. I have found myself through the process of being challenged by circumstances and by people. Of course, challenges are just that — challenging. You may feel downtrodden, overwhelmed and just plain tired sometimes. College is hard. Life is harder. You’re trying to do both right now.

While success and salary and your love life and your grades and whatever else you’re worrying about today are important, these are not the most important things. The two most important things in this life are the people you love and your mental health. Notice you cannot hope to be there for the first if the second is not taken care of.

I will no longer be writing a column in this paper, but I will never stop fighting for awareness of mental health. I will never stop working to help people understand how important they are. I will never stop fighting for love and for self-care. I will never stop reminding others of their importance.

Additionally, I want to make sure you know you have a voice. You may not think you do. You may not think what you say or do impacts anyone, but I promise it does. I spent much of the past two years thinking no one even read my columns. But I have had many people come to me and talk about them. I mean, you’re reading it right now.

You may not think anyone listens to you, but I promise, someone out there is listening. Don’t give up. Keep writing, keep speaking, keep sharing. Keep fighting to make your voice heard. If it matters to you, it matters. Don’t let the world make you think it doesn’t.

You are loved. You are enough. Love yourself, and love others. There is already enough hatred and anger in this world. Don’t add to it. I’d like to leave you with my favorite quote from Gandhi: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Remember, as hard as you try and as much as you do, you can’t force others to change. Rather, be that change. Be a light in this world. I’ve spent the last two years talking about school shootings, intolerance of mental illness, transphobia, racism and more. Help create a world where these are a thing of the past.

Above all, take care of yourselves and take care of each other, dear readers.

Taylor Cavaliere is a UF journalism and psychology junior. Her column focused on mental health.