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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at York U chapter.

As school gets back into full swing and the pressures begin to mount, it’s often easy to feel overwhelmed. Goals begin to seem out of reach, small tasks begin to feel insurmountable, and doubt creeps in and decides to run your life. If you suffer from a mental illness, you may find these feelings being amplified and strongly taking hold before you realize. Yet, despite these feelings, whether simmering beneath the surface or spilling over, it’s not impossible to reach your goals of any size. Therefore, I felt it prudent to compile a list of five well-known people who’ve accomplished their goals and dreams despite the fight going on within themselves. It shows that you too can beat the odds, and that your mental illness does not define who you are or what you can accomplish.

Lady Gaga

Stefani Germanotta, otherwise known as Lady Gaga, deals with not only post-traumatic stress disorder, but fibromyalgia as well—a condition she only recently revealed she had in her newest documentary. Despite this, Lady Gaga has gone on to win a slew of awards including six Grammys and is one of the top powerhouses of music with well over 20 million albums sold worldwide.

Photo Credit: Ben A. Pruchnie / Getty Image

Zayn Malik

The former One Direction singer has admitted to having serious anxiety, especially around live performances, yet, Malik continues on, even recently releasing a new single after becoming the first U.K. male solo artist to debut number one in the billboard top 200 with his first album.

Photo Credit: Miller Mobley / Hollywire

The one thing all these people have in common is they all live with a mental illness. They’re just five of the millions of people around the world who have one. They have struggled and fought, and, despite their perceived demons, they’ve persisted in their own ways, just as so many have before, are and will. Let them be reminders that you’re not alone in your pursuits, and that hope is always there.

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Wilfrid Laurier University Alumna - BA Honours History & Minor in Sociology and Religion and Culture. York University B.Ed. Her Campus York U Campus Correspondent/ HSA Advisor/ Chapter Advisor.  When I'm not leading the team, advising, or writing you'll find me watching any and every reality T.V show or re-runs of Friends and Gilmore Girls. Semi-classy wine lady who thinks pineapple on pizza is a crime.