A few important words from the Features Editor

by Brandon Athey
Features Editor

Note: The following is a brief editorial about future articles by Brandon Athey regarding an important issue facing college students today.

In the next few issues, I plan to focus on an important issue that I think needs to be discussed in “The Courier.” The issue of college students and depression is a topic I find relevant not only from a journalistic standpoint, but also because I have witnessed close friends and family members who have been affected by this often-misunderstood disease. Another reason I find this issue a necessary topic to discuss is because I have personally suffered from depression. Let me give you a moment to let that phrase sink in...

For the first semester of my junior year, I spent the bulk of it having trouble getting out of bed unless I was motivated to do so by others. Somehow, my schoolwork and writing did not become affected. I almost always felt lethargic and I would sleep for much of the day, plus I had wildly fluctating mood swings in which I would go from exceedingly upbeat to withdrawn and temperamental in a matter of seconds. My first suspiscion was that I was pregnant. However, since this is biologically imposssible, not only because I unfortunately practice involuntary abstinence, but the last time I checked, I am a male. I eventually decided the symptoms were an indication of something else. All kidding aside, during this time in my life I was crippled by lengthy periods of self-doubt and worthlessness that would often last weeks, coupled with the occasional thought of suicide or two. If not for the help of my friends and family, I would not be here to write this.

That semester was a tubulent rollercoaster ride that I wish to never repeat again, which is why I want to discuss the issue of depression among college students in upcoming issues. I intend to talk to trusted professionals, such as Psychology professors and on-campus counselors to get statistical information and their own professional opinions on the topic. I also want to feature and interview MC students who may know of loved ones who have suffered from depression, or even those who wish to bravely discuss their own experiences, either by name or anonymously. Lastly, I also want to reflect on my own experience with depression and how it has actually made me a better person in the long run. Not only do I have a newfound confidence in my abilities, but I also appreciate and treasure my own life for the first time ever. Because of my in-depth research and occasional difficulties that may occur while focusing on this topic, I will most likely not do a Movie Guru article for the time being unless I see a film so brilliant and excellent that I must do an article on it. I know you are not used to me (or “The Courier” in general, for that matter) doing articles that resemble actual investigative journalism, but I feel this topic needs attention. I hope you will follow me on this journey of information and self-discovery, and maybe even participate in my journalistic endeavor. If you have any questions or comments, contact me by e-mail (bathey@monm.edu) or phone (#3001). Thanks for reading, and I promise I still have a few “Movie Gurus” left in me before I graduate!