Ladies and gentlemen, this has been a decision in the works for quite some time. But, I figure the best time to announce it is now.
I'm leaving.
Now you might be wondering: "But why, Maestro? Where will you go?" Well, university is looming around the corner. I'm off to get another piece of laminated paper that says "I are smrt". That isn't the only reason.... but first, some expository banter! A look under the hood at the methods to Maestro's madness, if you will.
After I graduated from high school two years ago, I had no idea what I wanted to do; so I got a job after that summer to save some cash in the hopes that I wouldn't end up (or at least stave off) being a starving university student. Off to work I went!
Enter Halo 4. I also took up forging somewhat seriously once it was released. Shortly after, work stunk. My manager and I rarely saw eye-to-eye, in more ways than the fact that she literally had to look up at me. She was a for a lack of better emoticons. The girl I had liked since grade nine moved away and things didn't end on a positive note; I wanted to get out of there. I still had no idea what I wanted to do, and chose to stick around for another year.
Enter 343iCF, a place of fun and Halo and the stomping grounds of forgeries. What could be better? If I'm going to stay at home for another year, I might as well enjoy it.
Aside from this community, things looked bleak. I got transferred to a department that was foreign to me at work. I traded a horrible boss for mundane and seemingly pointless tasks. I found myself asking "What's the point?" It's the kind of place where managers commend you for your work when it's a blue moon out and all of the planets align, yet are swift to punish you if you do something as insignificant as put a paper clip back in the wrong spot. The money was irrelevant; it felt like my time was being wasted. Depression and nihilism took over.
The freaky thing about depression is that you can never tell who has it. Those who have it tend to bottle it up; a recent example is Robin Williams... who would have guessed with his happy-go-lucky demeanor?
Did it ever occur to anyone here that I had it too? I fought with depression last summer, up until the middle of April this year. I had a pointless job, I had been rejected from university, and staying for a third year would have driven me insane. It would have been complete and utter hell.
A glimmer of hope appeared: another university accepted me. I was ecstatic! My days in this town were numbered! Things were looking up at last! I had cast aside any depression lingering within, and worked with a renewed vigour. I became more active here, and became friends with quite a few of you. I hosted events. I was happy again, and I wanted to share it with the community that had welcomed and accepted me with open arms.
As move-in day approached, I thought about my bout with depression... why I had it, what I could do to prevent it from coming back, and what I could do to help others who were still fighting their inner demons. It occurred to me that if I had taken my own life, I would devastate the lives of my loved ones.
If you have depression, I urge you not to give in: your life will turn around! Things always get worse before they get better; it's always darkest before dawn. Even if you feel you are alone in this world, you will leave a lot more pain in your absence if you take your own life. Think not only of yourself, but of others who care about you and love you! Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. You have the power to improve your life, but you also have the power of your friends and family to help you! You are not alone.
I've had a lot of fun during my time here. I've made quite a few new friends; the community as a whole has helped me through some tough times. As move-in day approaches, I can't help but feel there's a distinct lack of... unity. There's a severed bond somewhere. I can't quite figure out where, or why I get this vibe. I guess it's because I knew I'd be leaving soon. Like the stoic I am, I didn't want to get attached to you guys. Too late for that, I suppose.
As of September, I'll be gone. But not permanently, like I had considered some time ago. It'll be a temporary goodbye to a community that I want to permanently be a part of.
Live long and Lenny.
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
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