Introduce yourself! Who are you?
My name is Yusra Soomro. I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Most of my free time is spent fighting the stigma and spreading awareness for mental illness. My passions include photography, painting, drawing, poetry, and writing. I’m currently in University working towards my Accounting degree.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t worry about how successful people are around you, worry about how happy you feel.
What would you say to 16 year old you?
If I were able to go back in time and talk to my sixteen year old self, boy would I have a lot to say! The one piece of advice that stands out to me is to love yourself. While that sounds incredibly basic and overused, it rings true to me on a much deeper level. Throughout my teenage years, I dealt with an incredible amount of neglect and disregard for my own feelings from both others and myself. I have always been such a caring and nurturing person, yet I refuse to offer myself the same attention. After tons of work and therapy, I’ve come to the conclusion that the key to my happiness is: love yourself the same way you love others.
What is your greatest fear?
Believe it or not, my greatest fear is failure. I am terrified of disappointing those around me, especially those I love most. Failure is the root of my anxiety and depression.