I am what other people would call a successful individual. I have just graduated from a difficult graduate program into a well-paying, respected profession, but I have never really felt proud of myself or my accomplishments. Since I was in grade school, I have always felt like I was not good enough, that I was lacking in some way. I have struggled with self-esteem issues and depression through adolescence and into my adult life. I had my first suicidal thought when I was 9. I have never acted on these thoughts because of a fear of death, but I don’t understand why I really deserve to live. I don’t feel like I’ve done anything worthwhile in my life and feel like I am just a waste, a drain on resources. I am told by almost everyone I know that I’m a good person. I have yet to believe any of them.