An Introduction to Diana

Full Name? (First/Middle/Last)

Diana Nicole Blackhurst

Walk us through a day in your life.

I sleep, I eat, I write, I paint, then I eat and sleep again.

What’re your Interests? How did you get interested in them?

I love painting. Art is something I've always done as a kid, so I guess my mom really got me interested in it. I also love psychology. My recent struggle with mental health issues really got me into that as well as just how interesting the human mind is.

What’re your passions? Tell us in-depth about them.

I'm passionate about helping people, specifically people with mental health issues, like myself. I even run this public, online mental health club. I'm passionate about writing and poetry; There was a time when I'd even write at least three poems a day. I am also very passionate about equality and different social issues. It gets me really fired up to know someone isn't being treated fairly.

What are some of your life goals?

My goals in life are to go to college and become a mental health professional, all while working to better myself so that I can better help other people.

What do you hope for out of life?

I hope to be content more than anything. I want to be happy and feel like I've accomplished something, and feel as though I have done my own little part in changing the world. I believe we all have the potential and impact to change the world, if only we all used that potential to our advantage.

What do you love about yourself?

I love how hard working and determined I am!

What do you dislike, but have you made peace with about yourself?

I've made peace with my stubbornness.

What has been your greatest challenge and what did you learn from it?

My greatest challenge has been my fight with mental illness and through that fight I have learned more about me and have grasped a better understanding of myself, as well as become more self-aware,

If you were given three things to make you happy, what would these be?

Family, love, and a purpose.

What legacy do you want people to remember about you after you’re gone?

My determined, hardworking, intelligent, and kind personality.

Would you rather be called vain or insecure?

I would rather be called vain, because I believe a lot of mental health problems stem from a lack of confidence in one's self, and who cares what others say? At least I'd have the nerve to feel good about myself.

Which would you choose to be: law-abiding citizen or rule-breaker, and why?

I rather break the rules, because change has never happened by obeying others.

What three words would describe you?

Stubborn, hard-working, and caring.

What subject(s) were you good at in high school? Which did you most enjoy?

I was best as writing, art, and psychology and I loved all three immensely.

How do you cope with stressful situations?

I listen to music, do art, and write or sometimes I make to-do lists, I write things down, and just do everything I can to stay busy.

What fashion piece would you have invented for women?

I would have invented dresses with pockets, because it is fashionable and functional.

What is the single most important thing people can do for the world?

The can be kind and speak their minds.

What do you think are the two things that prevent people from realizing their dreams?

I don't think it's ever really a matter of people not realizing their dreams, but rather being too scared to follow them because we live in a world where we are expected to be realistic instead of being allowed to dream.

Would you lay down your life for someone or something? Who or what?

I would lay down my life for my loved ones and for any of the causes I'm very passionate about.

Do you listen to other people’s advice, or do you prefer figuring things out yourself?

I listen to the advice of others, but I usually prefer to do my own thing.

Imagine that you are tasked to re-design society – what changes would you make?

I would get rid of hatred and prejudices as well as the unreasonable expectations that society has for everyone.

Have you made someone cry? When? How?

I unintentionally made my mom cry when I was in the hospital fighting mental illness, self-harm, and my suicidal thoughts.

What will people say about you at your funeral?

That I'm really stubborn and determined, very hardworking and very ambitious.

For you, what is the purpose and message behind this blog?

The purpose, to me, is to challenge common thought and get people debating things they otherwise would have never thought of before.