A "Human Spirit Essay" written for English class, about Cody's experience presenting with the MSFN Youth Board at a statewide children's mental health conference in April 2004.

A HELPFUL HINT

By: Cody Trott

A teenage boy walks carefree across a large convention center; he is heading towards a group of other teenagers who are presenting a conference. He has loose fitting blue jeans on, accessorized by a tropical Hawaiian shirt, which sways exposing his arrogance; all of this is topped off with an ear piercing and perfectly blonde spiked hair.

The adolescent takes his seat upon reaching the conference room. A faint buzz of whisper echoes off of the room's walls. The teenage boy is here with some friends to help parents with children with mental health diagnosis, and to answer prominent questions they might have on how these individuals may have dealt with problems they have experienced. He talks of how his mother has been such a huge advocate for him and other young people who have some sort of mental health issues. Collectively he and the others speak about how it feels when someone automatically labels you because you have a disorder of the mind. He says that he is doing everyone a favor, but zzzespecially the ones who have an actual disorder, by telling these young parents and doctor's with their Ph.D.s, that the stigma for mental health should be abolished.

Everyone in the room claps for what he and the other adolescents stand for, because they have touched their hearts today. The room clears and the teenagers go home and prepare for another speaking opportunity.