By Lizzy Klein, whose dad died when she was in high school
Crying is unavoidable and helpful. Sometimes you will run out of class or the grocery store sobbing and it’s okay. Don’t be ashamed of your emotions.
People you never expected to reach out to you do, and sometimes people you expected to reach out to you don’t.
Grief affects you physically so much more than I ever expected - my sleep and eating habits changed drastically and it’s okay to seek help from a doctor.
I would rather have an acquaintance who knows my dad passed away acknowledge that vs avoiding it in a conversation. He will never be an “elephant in the room topic”. He’s my father and I love to talk about him. Even if I burst into tears.
I’ve learned to appreciate the small victories. Getting a C+ on an exam when you spent the entire night before crying yourself to sleep, is okay. It’s okay to take time to yourself. You can retake classes but your mental health is just as important.
About Lizzy Klein
”My name is Lizzy Klein and I’m currently a sophomore in college. My father was diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer in my senior year of high school. I was one of his primary caregivers during the last seven months. He passed away September 7th 2019. I find stories and testimonies like these to help my grief journey and remind me I’m not alone.”
You can follow Lizzy on Instagram.
