A series of articles written by SCCO Student Ambassadors.

Learning to Ask for Help

by SCCO Student Ambassador, Catherine Tran

Since a young age, I always felt a need to be hyper-independent. My parents were so busy finding ways to provide for our family, that I took it upon myself to become as independent as possible to lessen the weight of their burden. For a while, I valued this independence and was proud of myself for not being reliant on others. It wasn’t until I entered college that I realized this independence I valued so deeply was not something developed as a natural response to growing up, but rather as a coping mechanism, born out of necessity and the feeling of being unsupported.

As a college student, I worked at a job where I was responsible for managing several stations. My (stubborn) independence at the time had me juggling the tasks at each station on my own. I didn’t want to be a burden to my coworkers no matter how overwhelming things would get. Asking for assistance was so difficult, and I seldom ever did. I became so focused on trying to do everything on my own that I couldn’t see how it was affecting my ability to give proper care to customers. It became clear that this “independent” mindset that I held onto for so long was stopping me from growing as a person.

This coping mechanism no longer benefited me as it once did, and I let go of my unrealistic need to be fully independent. I began asking for help, seeking out guidance, and allowing myself to be assisted by others in tasks that I would have normally tried to tackle on my own. The way I served customers drastically improved, and I connected better with my coworkers. When I started to ask others for help, I realized my community was always there, all I had to do was ask!

Though independence is vital, having the wisdom to know when help is needed and to accept it is just as valuable. Learning to ask for help has allowed me to grow into a more confident and open person. A person who now can better serve their patients and provide genuine support to their peers. People are more willing to provide help than you think. Reaching out and forming connections is the first step to finding a community full of support!

Thank you for staying with me until the end. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at catherinetran.scco27@ketchum.edu. I’m here to help you!

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