The Mental Wellness Struggles of Isolation

Growing up as the daughter of a school superintendent shaped my identity in profound and often challenging ways.

My mother, Summer Stephens, was the superintendent of the two school districts in Wyoming and Nevada I attended from 6th grade until I graduated in 2019. While many students knew their school administrators only from afar, I lived with mine. This reality carried a unique set of pressures and expectations, which influenced my academic journey and personal development.

The district I attended from 6th through 11th grades, in Upton, Wyo., was so small that everyone knew my mother was the superintendent. This knowledge often isolated me from my peers. I struggled to make friends and fit in because I was always seen as “the superintendent’s daughter” rather than just another student. It was as if I walked under a spotlight wherever I went, a light that shone too brightly for comfort. This sense of isolation took a toll on my mental health, contributing to challenges that persist today.