I admire celebrities when they open up about their struggles. There is a Korean star named “Chung Ha Kim.” I like her very much. Once, she said in the show that she has not rested for four years, works every day, and never goes home. It is very hard. At that time, I felt that the life of a celebrity was very similar to mine. I was busy every day and even had no rest. I feel more motivated when stars share the less-glamorous parts of their lives. Because celebrities have also experienced these pains, they have achieved some achievements today. Think about what I can accomplish if I get through all this pain.
I’m a pretty small guy. Smallest in my family, friend group, and a lot more. As a small athlete I look up to the athletes who have made it to pro and have had to suffer through some of the same things I’m going through right now. For example, Tyreek Hill has told the public growing up when he was younger was always hard for him because of his height, but that didn’t matter because all that did was made him push himself even harder.
I believe that celebrities coming out and explaining their own struggles helps the public because they can relate to the person more without even meeting them. It might be something so little to the celebrities. But it could mean the world to people like me.
— B, Block 2, Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC
It Helps to Know We’re Not Alone in Our Struggles.
As a teen who has looked up to Taylor Swift for years now, the candidness of her music and her openness about her struggles gives me and so many others strength. To feel understood by a celebrity of such acclaim is empowering and can potentially give people the courage to share their struggles, even if just with those near to them. In a world that is increasingly fueled by comparison and competition, bringing light to mental health in arguably one of the most competition-based industries is incredibly important. Since so many people compare themselves to celebrities and even idolize them, it is vital, especially for young people, that we manage to see humanity reflected in them. If we can find this in celebrities, we can ultimately learn so much more from their work and see them for what they really are. People, just like us.
I definitely appreciate when celebrities share the struggles they face in their lives. Because so many people look to celebrities as untouchables, when in reality they experience everyday hardships too. It opens up an opportunity to relate to them. And since so much of their lives are already out there, it doesn’t have to look glamorous. I have my own personal struggles with mental health and I definitely believe that seeing other people going through similar things has a comfortability to it. What’s more, it is a brave thing to share that aspect of your life with anyone let alone millions of people so it should never be ridiculed.
— Grace, Glenbard West High School
I am appreciative of celebrities being vulnerable and open about their struggles in the public eye. Especially after Covid, we humans often feel like we’re alone. Maybe physically, but more persistently, emotionally/mentally. When we feel like no one around us is going through the same struggles, maybe because they really aren’t or because we’re too uncomfortable to talk about them and reach out for help, celebrities coming out and saying their piece can really help. My own mom sends me videos of Kendall Jenner talking about her mental health, because she loves me and wants me to feel less alone. Mental health issues are the literal opposite of glamorized, but seeing someone who we view as perfect struggling as well, can make us less embarrassed of our hardships. Because they’re not embarrassing, or weird, or stupid. Everyone has them, and they deserve to be respected and understood.
While I haven’t listened to her music since 1st grade, the song Anti-Hero particularly, came up on my YouTube page. I found the song relatable, but in a strange and disconnected way. I knew I was privy to a fraction of Taylor Swift’s life, but knowing Taylor Swift too wasn’t perfect was a relief, in a strange way. That I wasn’t the only one having incessant thoughts of how I don’t belong anywhere, it’s similar to schadenfreude except significantly less sadistic. I appreciate the effort celebrities are now putting out to show to their audiences that life isn’t simple and perfect, it normalizes human struggles and doesn’t alienate impressionable people that feeling negative emotions is abnormal. Public figures like celebrities owe it to their fans to be more authentic.
The Learning Network
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