Continuing high school is the dream of almost every middle school child as it was of me. I was glad when I got admission to attend one of the most prestigious Senior High Schools in the country.
Little did I know that was going to be one of the most difficult phases I'd go through in life.
St Roses Senior High School is a Catholic all-girls school, located in the diamond city of the Easter region of Ghana.
This was the first time I was to go to a place so far away from home and my family. I was just 13 years when I started school.
The first year passed by quite smoothly. I was mostly nonchalant and didn't care about anything except making good grades and soccer.
The second year came with its baggage. It was this year that I got to figure out one of my biggest life lessons.
I realized I hadn't adapted to the school system.
I didn't feel secure in the school anymore. I was gripped by fear and I was overwhelmed most of the time.
I was emotionally unstable and lonely even in my circle of friends. My grades dropped and everything came crashing down. And the only one I could run to, it felt wasn't there anymore because my prayers were left unanswered.
I cried myself to sleep every night and hardly smiled or laughed. I didn't care anymore even about the things I cared for so much in the school.
No one could understand what I was going through because it sounded petty on the outside but it was killing me on the inside. I was depressed. I had heard of depression but I never thought of it happening to me, not to talk of it happening at that young age.
It was hard to hide all I was going through because I wasn't an introvert.
People started to ask me what changed but my answer was always, 'Nothing'.
Suicide crossed my mind and I embraced it with open arms because it seemed like the best option. After all, the end of everything is death, I told myself.
I was standing on the veranda of the first floor, one evening thinking of how to execute my plan quickly. I didn't care what news would spread about the school or what people would feel, or what would happen to the people who loved me:I just wanted it to all end.
As I was standing there, a friend of mine tapped on my shoulders and asked, "Lois, what is wrong". I turned to look at her and before I could say 'nothing', tears poured down my face. She looked at me and said, " Pray, don't give up yet, everything would be fine".
Those were the words that kept me around.
She was an angel and she saved my life. The fact that she came at the exact time I was to do the unthinkable still baffles my mind.
I realized that, even though people wouldn't understand what you go through, there are still people who genuinely care for you.
And as bad as it hurts, you have to be brave and fight on because it gets better.
I wanted to know why God put me through all that at a young age and I found out that if I didn't, then I wouldn't be able to understand what others are going through and help them.
Take it from me, it gets better
When you can overcome the challenge, it makes you stronger and tougher and you look back and realize that everything has worked out perfectly.
To everyone who's going through a hard time, and is finding it difficult to cope with all that, pray, don't give up, you'll be alright.