MANCHESTER, Conn. — A Manchester High School junior is using her experience with grief to help others going through a tough time.
As Samantha Mitchell, 17, read her book that she published last month, she reflected on a time when writing was an afterthought.
"I kept a lot of my thoughts to myself," Mitchell said. "When I was younger, I didn’t really like to journal. So writing the book, it was interesting thinking back to the experiences and not having a lot of things I wrote in my journal."
However, a traumatic experience influenced her to start expressing herself through pen and paper. Her father passed away from a heart attack when Mitchell was just nine years old.
"It was rough, of course," Mitchell said. "A lot of crying and screaming. I really leaned on my family for support and they were great."
Around her 11th birthday, Mitchell started journaling more seriously and living by a mantra that helped her overcome her grief.
"Even though you’re in a dark moment, you can find light," Mitchell said. "You’ll get through it."
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She hopes to help other children going through the same thing with her very own book.
"The name of the book is 'Finding Light in Darkness: A Daughter’s Healing Journey.' For kids, I want to give them validation for the thoughts and feelings they have going through grief," Mitchell said.
The book is not just for kids, but for parents too.
"For the adults, I want to maybe give them some insight into what their child might be thinking," Mitchell said. "Pay attention to maybe even little signs. I know my mom didn’t know too much until she read it because I didn’t want to make her upset."
The book has only been out for a month, but it is already flying off the shelves.
"My family was all so excited," Mitchell said. "They ordered it right away. It was so much positivity and it just made me smile."
When asked what she wanted to do after high school, Mitchell said she isn't sure yet but that she hopes writing is always a part of her life.
Jamel Johnson is a Multi-Skilled Journalist for FOX61 News. He can be reached at jjohnson@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
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