I have been through three separate programs at a local community college. I started at age 18 with a general media course, moved onto a general arts & science course, and finished with a course dedicated to social work. I dropped out twice before figuring out that social work is the one thing I'm interested in. So here's the deal for me:

I love school, but only since I've found what I'm actually interested in. The only course I have enjoyed has been social work. I loved my college too, but I only am going to get a diploma for this and my ultimate goal is a Masters in Social Work. I partied a lot, but only at the start. I'm 25 now, and I have found that my drive to party is superseded by my drive to find purpose in my life and excel in my studies.

Despite dropping out twice, I don't regret a thing. At age 18, I would have hated social work. I picked it at the right time in my life. We all change as we age, so how was I to know what was right for me then? I still don't really know what I want out of life, how was I supposed to know when I was 18? My advice, ultimately, is to be ready to learn and engage as best you can. That's it - do your best, follow your intuitions, and hopefully things will work out.

I have mostly everything I need right now in my life. I have shelter. I have food. I have people who love and care for me. I do not look at my life and see what else I need, because my needs are being met. My battle is now to help others - to ensure that they have an ally in their struggles.

Reporters being arrested and hit with tear gas is horrible, to be sure - and it will help to spark more international attention to this incident - but what shouldn't be forgotten are all of the folks who have been beaten, detained, harassed, and oppressed before, during, and after this incident in situations which do not garner the same kind of attention - such as poor people of colour.

I am deeply saddened by the recent event of Robin Williams death. It has inevitably sparked much discussion about mental health and taking care of ourselves and one another. This isn't a bad thing - but I find myself getting really frustrated at some of the things that my friends and colleagues post on Facebook. One of them recently posted a small, but touching tribute to Williams legacy on her wall. We all care when someone famous and charming suffers. But this same colleague of mine, not just two weeks ago, told me a story about how her friend was pretending to have a mental illness just so she could leech off the system and not work. This colleague was so sure she was faking it. This angers me. In my case, my mental illness doesn't just walk up to you and tell you it's here. When I suffered with suicidal thoughts, almost no one in my life knew because I was too afraid people wouldn't believe me, or that people would tell me to get over it.

It's great that you care about Robin Williams, but if you really care about mental illness, start looking at how you can treat those around you differently. You may have to start believing people when they tell you they are suffering.

I don't have to condone the looting, but I understand the rage and anger. I'd be pissed off too.