When I first moved to the UK on my own, there were many times when I felt deeply isolated. I was trying to build a new life while carrying a past that many people around me could not fully understand. At university, I struggled to connect with other students because my background, culture, and life experience were so different from theirs. I was physically present, but often felt far away from everyone else. At the time, I did not have the language for what I needed. But I did find some spaces where I felt safe and a few people who I could trust and be myself around them even if I couldn't open up fully. Looking back, I can see how much that season taught me about the importance of human connection. It taught me why safe spaces matter. It taught me why having even one trusted person can change the way someone carries their pain, especially in a new country starting a new life. That understanding has stayed with me in my life and in my work. It is part of why I try to connect wit...