This I Believe: I believe in the power of perseverance.

My name is Katelin Simmons, and I believe in the power of perseverance. I was born premature, at one pound fourteen ounces. I was diagnosed at birth with cerebral palsy, Cerebral palsy is a disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture that is caused by an insult to the immature, developing brain, most often before birth.Children and adults with cerebral palsy require long-term care with a medical care team. Mayo Clinic discussing cerebral palsy Although the doctors said that I would have this, it never manifested. I had a vast amount of health issues, such as a grade 3 brain bleed, innumerable surgeries, and unilateral sensorineural hearing loss in my right ear. Today, I only wear glasses. I used to wear a hearing aid, but stopped in high school. Throughout all of those trials, I have persevered. I say this not to boast or appear to be puffed up in any way, but instead to demonstrate a willingness, a drive to always keep going.
Having said all of that, it hasn't been an easy ride. Starting from the age of eleven or twelve, I developed both anxiety and depression. With my physical challenges conquered, I was under the false impression that I could do the same with my mental illness. Countless arguments and crying sessions happened because of my parents disbelief. To this day I am fighting the stigma that is behind mental illness.Yes, I may look fine, but a lot of days I am far from.

To connect this to my "This I Believe" essay and first installment, I say that I believe in the power of perseverance. I believe in persevering to seek out help when it is necessary and working to fight stigma, whether it be from friends, family members, or complete strangers. I believe in refusing to be silent, and in not giving up, even when giving up seems like the better option at the time. Perseverance is a concept and ideology that is declining, We must persevere. This I believe.