We all know the saying, “Nobody is perfect.” It has been planted in our brains since we were children, and of course, it is the truth. So if nobody is perfect, why do we have such a hard time admitting when we are in trouble or need help?

Like many other young people trying to get through their first year of college, I felt anxiety, and it had its grips on me pretty tight. It began getting in the way of my life, and I had to sit down and tell myself that my behavior was not healthy and there was a solution. Finally, I decided to turn to therapy(精神疗法).

Therapy. It has such a negative stigma (污名), but why? Does going to therapy mean that you are failing as a person or that you cannot fix your problems on your own? No. Going to therapy means that you are strong enough to recognize that something inside your head is not working correctly, and you are brave enough to try to fix it.

After a couple of weeks, many parts of my life became so much clearer. I began to understand that I, myself, am my worst enemy, which was pretty frightening. But, although frightened, I knew that it was only I who could guide me towards feeling better, and that was extremely empowering.

I have been guided towards a healthier mindset, one that is positive and powerful. I have been able to understand that no matter what happens in my life. I will always be okay.

A lot of people do not understand that it is normal to have negative feelings and sometimes to feel like we have lost control over certain parts of our lives. Seeing a therapist can greatly change your way of thinking about something if you keep your mind open and I am so thankful that I decided to go and do something for myself.

If you are in need of help, you can go to therapy and then everything will be okay.

During the Second World War, Dr. William Walsh served on a U.S. Navy ship in the South Pacific. While serving there, Walsh observed the poor health conditions in which the people of the South Pacific lived.

After the war ended in 1945, Walsh founded an organization called Project Hope. Its goal was to bring health education and care to people in poor countries around the world. In 1958, Walsh convinced U.S. President Eisenhower to allow Project Hope to rent a U.S. Navy hospital ship for just one dollar a year. Many companies and ordinary people donated money to Project Hope. The organization used the funds to turn the navy ship into a civilian hospital ship called the SS Hope.

During the next 14 years, the SS Hope traveled to every region of the world. Wherever it went, it provided health care for needy people and helped poor countries establish their own health care systems. In 1974, the SS Hope was retired from service, and Project Hope began to provide health care on land instead.

The story of the SS Hope inspired Don and Deyon Stephens to buy a passenger ship in 1978 and transform it into another hospital ship. Since then, their organization, called Mercy Ships, has sent ships equipped with medical supplies and hospital beds around the world. Doctors volunteer to travel on these vessels or ships and perform free surgeries on people who need them. They can correct people’s vision, straighten bent limbs, remove facial tumors (肿块) and more. Mercy Ships also provides medical equipment for local health clinics and builds medical facilities. In addition, it teaches local people how to farm their land more effectively and more sustainably.

For years, doctors have given blood to patients who need it to survive. These “transfusions” (输血) usually involve giving red blood cells to patients. Red blood cells do an important job: they take oxygen from the lungs and spread it through the body. People who suffer from some diseases need extra red blood cells to remain healthy.

The blood used in transfusions comes from people who donate blood. Since our bodies are always making more red blood cells, donating blood doesn’t cause problems for the person giving it. There is a constant demand for blood transfusions, and there are often shortages.

For the first time ever, scientists’ are testing red blood cells grown in a laboratory on human volunteers. The new trial is being carried out in the United Kingdom. The project is being run by the National Health Service’s Blood and Transplant unit and the University of Bristol, along with other universities.

What’s new in the experiment is that people are being given red blood cells that were created in a laboratory. The scientists used stem cells(干细胞) from a blood sample to grow billions of brand new red blood cells. The new red blood cells can be adjusted for people with different blood types. Also, the red blood cells created are brand new, meaning they last longer.

To test the safety of the lab—grown red blood cells, researchers have given a couple of teaspoon of lab—created blood to two healthy people. Both people seem to be doing just fine after the transfusions. In all, the red blood cells from the lab will be tested on 10 people, and compared to normal transfusions.

The new process isn’t expected to replace normal blood transfusions, which will remain hugely important. Growing red blood cells in a lab is extremely expensive. And a lot of work and testing still needs to be done. But if it’s successful, in the future the process could make life much easier for patients who often need transfusions—even those with rare blood types.