LA MIRADA, Calif. --- In our final feature of Mental Health Awareness Week we had a student-athlete share with us about how bullying in his formative years led him to a long struggle with depression and search for community.

This individual described a childhood where he struggled to make a lot of friends and the bullying of his classmates brought him to a "super dark place at a super young age."

It was not until he stumbled upon a loving community and meaningful escape in the sport of soccer that he began to find purpose and trek down his road to healing

"My only real escape was soccer. I honestly believe that soccer saved my life. I don't know where I'd be without soccer. Even to this day," he said.

While playing soccer in high school he got involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and gave his life to Christ his senior year. A decision that he described as a major milestone on his journey with depression.

He was sure to point out that even with all the positive life change that came after becoming a Christian, his depression and anxiety still did not completely melt away.

"Depression and anxiety is still something I struggle with to this day and I've been in bad places even since becoming a Christian, but surrounding myself with a community that's been able to love on me and gives me the ability to be open is something that's changed my life," he said.

During his high school career his world was rocked as he had a very close friend make the decision to take his own life. It's a part of his story that he would not wish on anyone else, describing the pain associated with having someone close to you die and not being able to get any kind of answer as to why.

"It was something that completely rocked my world. It was someone I grew up with and it happened so fast," he said. "Everything seemed so fine, but then out of nowhere it just happened. It's something I would never want to see someone else go through."

After an emotional high school experience he went to a different four-year school to begin his collegiate career and continue his competitive soccer experience. That's when he was overtaken with emotions that'd been boiling up inside of him left unaddressed throughout his high school days.

He describes his first year of school as one that was rough and really had him in a dark place. He says his heart and mind were in a bad place and he "knew he needed to leave."

"I still have a ton of amazing, great friends from my other school, but it was such a God thing that I was able to come here," he said. "I thought I'd end up at a JuCo for a year and then transfer out. I ended up signing my letter of intent really late, but God just really took care of it."

Upon transferring to Biola his community of faith and community of support grew wider and wider to help him be able to process everything that's gone on in his life from his elementary school years until now.

"When I got here, everything was like perfect," he said. "The soccer team was so great. They were so open to me and how I was feeling and what I had going on. They were able to love on me and encourage me."

He mentioned that his friendships both through the soccer team and with the other students on campus have pushed him to pursue God more and more. He believes God commands us to live in community with one another and love and listen to each other.

"Don't be afraid to tell your friends," he said. "I am not a super open person for the most part. Especially when I have things going on I don't want to just tell people. But God put your friends in your life for a reason. It's something that is really going to open your heart and change your world."

"You need to be in a community that's going to love on you," he said. "You need to have friends that are going to love on you if you really want to grow and get through your depression."