Growing up, I struggled with the overwhelming pressure to conform to peer expectations. I was very desperate to fit in, I compromised my own well-being, just to become popular and not care about my mental and physical health. This toxic cycle could have derailed my future as I’d often consume substances, and sometimes I was bullied by those who I called friends. I didn’t want to leave them because I thought leaving them would mean I don’t have a purpose, I’d be just another boy with hopeless dreams. I got the courage to move out of this cycle in 2019 when I joined Growing Champions. However, life had other plans. I lost two friends in the same year. One struggled in silence, hiding his pain, and I couldn’t be there for him. The other was taken from us by poisoning. These tragedies pushed me back into darkness, and I sometimes contemplated suicide, feeling lost and hopeless. But with Growing Champions, I discovered the life changing power of openness and vulnerability. Sharing my struggles and emotions became the way I started to heal. This journey taught me the power of prioritizing mental health, authentic connections while not conforming to expectations that our peers may have for us. Driven by my own experiences in darkness. I realized that we often think that only our peers could truly understand our struggles but thats not true. As a Growing Champions Change Leader, I’m driven to break barriers and build bridges, fostering a community where people feel safe sharing their struggles and receive powerful support. I wish someone had been there for my friends, and I don’t want anyone else to suffer in silence. Let’s connect the world one, conversation at a time. Community Projects Silas Munzhedzi Leader of: