Member-only story
MENTAL HEALTH
I Didn’t Understand Her Struggles — And Lost My First Love Because of It
She needed support I didn’t know how to give
In my high school years, I was a quiet kid who mostly walked the hallways with my head down.
For a time, I was the best surfer in the school — something one might think would earn me some visibility in a Southern California beach town. But I remained largely overlooked at our football-crazy high school.
Consequently, I didn’t attend dances or the prom. I had one girlfriend for a few months, and secretly pined for girls I thought would never give me the time of day.
It was only in my senior year that I began to gain recognition, when word got around that I was “pretty smart” — my grade point average being among the best in the class.
Once in college, I flourished. The rowing team I joined won a national championship. I enjoyed my classes, made great friends, was invited to parties, learned to live independently and gained confidence.
Armed with a bachelor’s degree, I eventually decided to return to the area where I’d grown up and build my professional career.
After more than 10 years away, I revisited old friendships and cultivated new ones, including…
