Why Having A Support System Is Important

By Contributor Writer Kara Weightman 

As I sat in my room all alone after getting off the phone with a company and hearing the words “thank you for applying, but we are going to move forward with other candidates” for the second time that week, and probably the fifth time all together, I had no words. I could feel the anger, sadness, stress and frustration all build up inside of me.  Tears were forming in my eyes and all I wanted to do was scream or cry. I made two phone calls after that. The first one was to my mom who told me to keep my head up and to keep searching and that this one wasn’t meant to be. She told me that there was something better for me out there. The second phone call I made was to my boyfriend. When he answered the phone, my voice was shaky and all I could spit out was “I didn’t get the internship.” He immediately replied with, “I’ll be right there.” About five minutes later he was at my doorstep with a hug and a lot of comfort.  He sat with me until he made sure I felt better. After the frustration settled a bit, I thought of how lucky I was to have such an amazing support system around me.

All throughout life, we are faced and will continue to be faced with stressful, disappointing, heart breaking and difficult times. But we don’t have to face those hard times alone. I always knew that it was important to have a support system, but I never really understood how important that was until I started college. The amount of commitments that I have in college began to add up. Between schoolwork, the requirements of my major, my sorority, the two other student organizations that I am a part of, an executive board position and a social life, I feel pretty overwhelmed at times. I can’t tell you the amount of times I call my mom venting to her about life and the stress that’s going on. Or the amount of times my boyfriend will pick me up and we will just drive and talk until I am feeling better. Or sitting in my room talking to my sisters and roommates about the current drama that is going on. The support system I have is amazing and I am so thankful for each and every person.

Having a great support system in life is so important. They help you deal with the hard things going on in your life and are there to celebrate the good times with you. They help relieve some of the pressure and stress that life can bring. Having a support system really shows you that you are never alone in life nor will you ever have to face anything alone. Support systems are the people who are there for you no matter what because they care about you and want to see you succeed and be happy. They are the people who encourage you when you feel like giving up and the people who celebrate with you when you succeed. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

Sometimes we are not all lucky enough to have parents as support systems or even boyfriends. Sometimes you find family in those closest around you.  If you feel as though you may not have a support system from a family member or someone that is close to you, understand you are not alone. However never forget the people that have been there through the good and bad, that is the type of support system anyone would be lucky enough to have. It is important.