As I reflect on the passage of time, I’ve been thinking a lot about my dear friend and her little girl, who will be starting big school this September. It feels like just yesterday she was a toddler, and now she’s preparing for a major milestone! But it’s also a bittersweet thought because I know that for my friend’s daughter, this transition brings up a lot of anxiety.

This little girl, who has always been such a bright and spirited soul, has struggled with anxiety. Over the years, I’ve seen her navigate the ups and downs, and while she’s come a long way since her primary school days—where she was picking at her hair due to stress—I know that secondary school is going to be a whole new world. It’s a bigger, more intimidating place, and I just hope she continues to receive the support she needs if she ever feels overwhelmed.

The pressure of starting secondary school can be daunting, and I can’t help but feel for her as she prepares for such a significant change. I hope she knows that she doesn’t have to be perfect—that it’s okay to have worries, and it’s okay to ask for help when things get tough. No one should have to go through difficult moments alone, and as she grows older, I trust that she will continue to find ways to cope with her anxiety. If she ever feels like she’s struggling, I hope there’s someone in her school environment who will be there to offer that crucial support—whether it’s a counselor, a teacher, or even a friend who understands.

It makes me think about my own experiences growing up, and how, as a child, I didn’t have the resources or the language to fully understand or communicate what I was feeling. There were times I felt overwhelmed, with emotions I didn’t know how to express. I was too scared to talk to anyone, worried that I might say the wrong thing, or that I might be judged for feeling the way I did. I would often bottle everything up inside, keeping my struggles locked away, unsure of how to release them or who to turn to.

Looking back now, I truly wish that I had access to the kind of support that many kids have today. I wish I had known that it was okay to reach out for help, to talk to someone who could guide me through those tough feelings. A therapist, a trusted adult, or even a program for boosting self-esteem and promoting positive thinking would have made such a difference. If I had had that kind of emotional support in school, it might have eased some of the weight I carried for so long.

The reality is that many kids struggle in silence, not knowing that they can ask for help or that it’s okay to not have everything figured out. I’m so grateful to see that there are more resources available for young people now, whether it’s school counselors, self-esteem workshops, or therapy for children and teens. It’s a step in the right direction, and I hope that kids who are struggling today feel more empowered to speak up and take charge of their mental health.

As my friend’s daughter heads into secondary school, I’ll be thinking of her and hoping that she continues to thrive. I’m proud of how far she’s come and confident that, with the right support, she will continue to build the resilience she needs to face the challenges that lie ahead.

And as for me, I hold onto the hope that we’re all getting better at recognizing and addressing the emotional needs of our younger generations. If I had been given the tools back then to talk about my feelings, who knows how different things might have been. But I’m thankful that kids today are starting to have those conversations earlier, and I believe it will help them grow into strong, confident, and self-aware individuals.

There’s no shame in asking for support, and it’s never too early—or too late—to start building a foundation of positive mental health.