Sam was raised in a high-achieving, high-pressure household. Her father, a first-generation immigrant, was a picture of academic and athletic excellence. Her mother shared that same driven mindset, and together they raised their children to aim high. She loved her family and wanted nothing more than to make them proud. But the things that came easily to the rest of her family weren’t always easy for Sam. Though learning came slowly, Sam was a hard worker. She poured countless hours into her homework, chasing the validation of a perfect grade. She didn’t yet know she had a learning disability. Instead of understanding that her brain simply processed information differently, she internalized the belief that she wasn’t good enough. She was trapped in a cycle of perfectionism, where success felt like the only option—and failure felt like the end of the world.
The pressure became overwhelming. Anxiety made every task feel monumental, and perfectionism told her she couldn’t show up unless she could be perfect. By freshman year of high school, that anxiety had morphed into something deeper: depression. Sam began to withdraw from her friends and activities. She felt disconnected from her life and confused by the sadness she couldn’t explain. Despite having a loving family and no clear external crisis, she felt hopeless. She stopped going to school. Her grades slipped. She was put on academic probation. She was kicked off the sports teams. Sam’s parents didn’t know what to do. They tried everything: multiple therapists, different medications, switching schools, and partial outpatient programs. Eventually, her parents enrolled her in a therapeutic wilderness program. Sam agreed, imagining a peaceful escape. What she got instead was a stark, raw survival experience in the desert of Utah.
While Sam does not advocate for therapeutic wilderness programs, she does explain that the wilderness taught her some valuable things. Sam learned to redefine success and she was able to connect deeply with others who had suffered in silence like she had. Sam left the woods with a new mindset. She learned to be on her own team, to advocate for her mental health as fiercely as she would for her physical health. And most importantly, she learned that vulnerability is not weakness—it’s the beginning of healing.
This mindset supported her through transition back to school and in going to college. But she wasn’t without challenges. On some level, Sam was still chasing perfectionism and fitting into a mold that she just didn’t fit in. In college, Sam again struggled with being overwhelmed and not listening to her inner voice. Consequently, she developed a binge eating disorder in her grasp for control. But this time, she knew she needed help and began working with a therapist right away. With the support of a therapist and new coping skills, Sam was able to make the choices that were best for her. She honored her inner voice to prioritize her emotional and physical well-being and create a life that she always hoped for.
Now, as a speaker with Minding Your Mind, Sam shares her story so that others don’t have to suffer in silence the way she did. She reminds people that asking for help is not a failure—it’s a brave and necessary act. Her message is simple, but powerful: “It’s okay to not be okay. But it’s not okay to stay silent. Your story matters. Your pain is real. And your life is worth fighting for.”
Sam is based in Greater Boston, MA. In-person speaking engagements beyond 90 miles may require a fee for travel expenses.
