Speaking Up

By Katie Milbrandt

If you had told me three years ago that I’d be here today—studying architecture, sharing my mental health journey with communities across South Dakota, and feeling stronger in both body and mind—I probably would’ve smiled politely and gone on my way, never imagining that this version of life could be mine. But life is funny like that. Sometimes, our darkest chapters are the ones that light the path forward. 

Hi! I’m Katie—a full-time college student, future architect, mental health advocate, fitness lover, and someone who tries to bring a little extra sparkle to everywhere I go. But I’m also someone who lives with depression and anxiety. And that’s where my story really begins. 

My mental health journey started when I was young. I was just a kid when I witnessed firsthand how mental illness affects not just the person struggling but everyone around them. It wasn’t until years later that I understood the weight of what I’d seen in my own home. I couldn’t quite put it into words back then; I just knew something felt heavy. 

In high school, things got worse before they got better. Transferring schools after constant bullying gave me a fresh start—and a reminder that we get to write our own next chapters. I found friends, purpose, and joy in cheer, choir, and volleyball. I started to believe that maybe life could be beautiful again. 

College was my big reset button. I moved four hours away to a new state, ready to start a new chapter with a clean slate. But even fresh starts don’t protect you from heartbreak. My world stopped the day I got a call telling me that my cousin had died by suicide. I was in shock. Lost. I couldn’t go home right away, and the distance from my family made the pain even harder. 

Not long after, on a day that’s supposed to be all about love—Valentine’s Day 2022—I hit my lowest point. I tried to end my life. 

But thanks to a brave friend, the campus police, and a counselor named Amanda, I got the help I needed. Therapy became my safe space, and little by little, I began to heal. I learned that asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s courage. I learned that it’s okay to not be okay. Most of all, I learned that my story isn’t over yet. 

Fast forward to today: I’m still here, and I’m more passionate than ever about using my story to help others. That’s why I created my community service initiative, “Speak Up: Stopping the Stigma by Starting the Conversation.” 

It’s more than a platform—it’s my personal mission. I know what it’s like to feel invisible. Like you're surrounded by people but still feel completely alone. And I don’t want anyone else to feel that way. 

So far, I’ve shared my story with over 4,000 South Dakotans through speaking engagements, panels, and school visits. I’ve partnered with incredible organizations like NAMI South Dakota and Lost&Found to bring meaningful conversations and mental health tools to communities

across the state. I was also part of a digital video series called “Stories of Resilience.” Because everyone’s story matters—and everyone deserves to be heard. 

I often get asked why I keep doing this. Why I keep sharing such a vulnerable part of myself with the world. The truth is, my vulnerability is my superpower. I’ve learned that our stories—especially the hard parts—hold the power to connect, to heal, and to change lives. 

I’m living proof that even after the worst day of your life, there can be better ones. That you can fall apart and still come back stronger. That you can speak up—and when you do, you make it a little easier for someone else to do the same. 

So here’s to speaking up. To starting conversations. To sparkling—even on the hard days. You matter, your story matters, and the world is a better place with you in it!

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Katie Milbrandt is the current Miss Rolling Plains (SD). You can follow her on her title's Instagram.

This is her first guest blog for Section 36 Forevers.