Elwood-John H. Glenn High School student-athlete Sierra Roizman recently organized the school’s first-ever Morgan’s Message girls lacrosse fundraiser game. The event was well-attended, and her efforts, including raffles and contests, raised over $200 to support the Morgan’s Message organization for student-athlete mental health. Each participating lacrosse player received a shirt representing John Glenn High School’s stand on mental health, reading “Taking a Shot at Mental Health” and featuring a butterfly drawn by Morgan Rodgers. In July 2019, the Duke University women’s lacrosse player took her life after battling with mental struggles, and the organization keeps her memory alive by striving to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health.
“‘Mental health’ are two words that are thrown around in schools across the nation,” Roizman said. “Sometimes when we hear these words, we brush them off as if they were a redundant concept that just appear over and over again. But for many, mental health isn’t just a topic discussed in school, but instead, a constant anxiety and wreckage of one’s self-worth. Others don’t acknowledge the interior struggles they face, and go along with their everyday lives refusing to seek help and fighting these battles alone with their inner selves. They do so in fear of lack of acceptance for their emotions, the feeling of vulnerability and, ‘weakness.’ I see this weakness in myself and those around me, a fear that if we release our emotions we will be seen as easily destroyed, weak. I wanted to embrace and help other people sharing the same struggles and goals as me. For this reason, I brought Morgan’s Message to John H. Glenn High School.”
As a multi-sport student-athlete, Roizman always found herself in a constant self-battle.
“My anxiety was through the roof, whether it was stomach pains or crying before any game or test, to panic attacks that felt like the world was closing in on me when I felt I didn’t perform,” Roizman said. “I would consistently tear myself apart if I didn’t meet unrealistic high expectations. All of these symptoms drained my mental health and made it difficult for me to love myself. I struggled with expressing this to those around me. I felt that if I did, I would be seen as dramatic for feeling ‘anxious’ over a silly sport or performance, but it was deeper than that. What this was really about was my unwillingness to open up. After learning how to better express my emotions, I found myself able to steadily battle these anxious and deteriorating feelings. My fight with mental health had led me to realize how obligated struggling people feel to stay silent. Morgan’s Message was a way for me to raise mental health awareness, starting with my community. So, one night, I decided to apply to become a Morgan’s Message ambassador. Although Morgan’s life was taken too soon, her energy and legacy live on to act as a change in our mental health standards. The Morgan’s Message vision is to emphasize that there is no shame in seeking help, and that you are never alone. By building the foundation of Morgan’s Message from stories, ambassadors and resources in schools and universities across the world, a community is built. This community is a stronghold for connectivity, which works to battle mental health stereotypes one step at a time. I was placed in a group with over 3,500 ambassadors from the biggest known universities to small high schools across the United States. Together as a community, we can empower those who suffer in silence and make sure it is known that it is okay to not be okay. John Glenn has become a part of this empowering cluster.”
Roizman found that the process of making her goal a reality was both difficult and extremely successful.
“I most certainly couldn’t have done it without the help of my peers and community members, and especially the assistance of Morgan’s Message staff,” Roizman said. Leading up to the game, my team members all helped me organize the details of our event as well as dedicating time and effort to make beautifully painted posters. These posters were hung up at our game, where our community members could see the meaningful paintings that served as a reminder to embrace the fight against mental health. Not only did Morgan’s Message help answer any questions I had along the way, but they supplied me with bracelets, ribbons and stickers all pointing back to the saying, “Mental Health Matters.” I was able to distribute these items not only to my team, but to my community members, which provides only more awareness. Thank you truly to all of those who helped in making my goals a reality.”
Roizman has big plans to expand Morgan’s Message in her school community.
“I hope to continue fighting the stigma of mental health and only expect dedication games to grow,” she said. “Our next step is the hope of establishing John Glenn’s first Morgan’s Message club, where we could have workshops, hands-on activities and discussions all surrounding mental health. Additionally, other sports will be encouraged to host dedication games. Next year, Morgan’s Message will grow even bigger!”
“We are so proud of you, Sierra,” Athletic Director Dave Shanahan said.
Date Added: 6/18/2024