Photo by: Rachael Roark
Andrew Steward, a student at the Lamont School of Music, spoke for the first time about his journey overcoming a severe mental illness at the TEDxDU Salon in Craig Hall last Thursday evening, along with Julie Markham, a DU alumna who was named one of USA Today‘s top 20 undergraduate students in 2010.
To a crowd of about 175 people, Steward said that his mental illness began to manifest after he took on too many responsibilities at his first college, Biola University, located in La Mirada, Calif., in the fall of 2005.
Andrew said that he was taking 18 credit hours, working as the children’s director at a church, leading an on-campus group to a nursing home, serving on the council for Biola University’s wind ensemble and training for a marathon.
“The stress mounted that fall and I remember first hearing a voice in my head around Thanksgiving of 2005,” said Steward. “The delusion built up over winter break of 2005.”
He described jumping in his car and looking at the sky because he believed that Jesus was coming back.
“My parents were really worried,” Steward said. “They had to come take me home.”
Steward’s dad, who is a trained psychotherapist, took Steward to a mental hospital.
“Mental hospitals are as bad as prisons,” said Steward. “My roommate told me he was God and that he was going to kill me.”
After leaving the mental hospital, Steward said the voice in his head continued and turned into the voice of his roommate. He said that the voice told him how to live his life.
In the fall of 2006, Steward got in a car accident and lost his job. After, he started seeing things like a snake curled up on his chest. He said he believed he was being attacked by Satan.
“I’d see fire everywhere,” said Steward. “It was indeed a living hell.”
Steward also reported that pills did not work for him. He said he received an injection soon after, but it was not until he learned to love and nurture himself that he truly started to get better.
“When someone has a mental illness, we tend to run away,” said Steward. “We need to bring awareness to this issue. We need to stop the stigma.”
Steward said that he is here as a testament to show that people can and will get better from mental illness. Today, Steward plays the flute and volunteers once a week by sharing his love for music with elderly people.
He said he hopes to help other people through what he’s been through.
Steward nominated himself to speak at the event through an email invitation that went out to the entire student body over the Winter Quarter of 2010. He received a standing ovation after his speech.
DU alumna Julie Markham spoke at the event as well.
She talked about how life’s journey is progressive, how you can’t always have a set plan, and about learning your passion as you go.
She said that people need to not be shy and to ask the question, especially if they are lost.
“People limit themselves because they don’t think they can do anything,” said Markham.
She also said not to rush through life. She talked about working for CB Richard Ellis, a Fortune 500 company, for six months before quitting to pursue her own business.
The business, which is called Greenlighted, sells discounted deals from socially and environmental sound companies. Non-profits will compete via an online competition and consumers will vote manually on the website or through their purchases.
A percentage of each deal will be added into a $1 million pool. Each time they reach the target number of purchases, the pool will be distributed to the top 50 organizations.
“We want these corporations to make a commitment to making a difference in the world,” said Markham. “We also want students to be more aware.”
Greenlighted is scheduled to launch by June 15, said Markham.
Molly Cottrell, a student who performs as a singer and pianist, also spoke and sang at the event. She describes herself as neo-soul/pop artist and has five EP’s (extended plays) which are available on iTunes.
The first song Cottrell performed, called “Run Me Down,” talked about wanting to get to know a person even if they make it difficult.
Cottrell went on to say that music is her only passion, that she couldn’t not do it. She is going to move to Los Angeles next year to pursue it.
“I don’t think you should have a Plan B because then you just give yourself an out,” said Cottrell.
Cottrell’s second song, “Trying to Get Out,” spoke of people who over analyze everything to the point where they can’t make a decision or function.
“You just have to go for it and overcome your fear,” said Cottrell.
The next TedxDU event, a kick-off party, is scheduled for May 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Driscoll Ballroom. It will feature DU alum and comedian Rob Gleeson, TED talks, appetizers and a cash bar.
TedxDU Active, which is scheduled for Friday, May 13, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at both the Driscoll Ballroom and the Driscoll Student Center, will be hosted by Gleeson and will feature a live simulcast from Gates Concert Hall. Both events are free, however registration is required and can be done at www.tedxdu.com
