Asme Wai Jun-Wang had always found the Yale University campus beautiful.

As her vintage heels clicked down paths past grand,

sun-dappled brick buildings, she remembered what it was like to be a college student here.

She used to marvel at the intricate stained glass in her lecture halls and fall in love with all the books.

Today, 18 years after she was supposed to graduate,

Esme felt proud and excited to be back at Yale to speak publicly.

She strode into the auditorium, gazed out at the crowd, and spoke from her heart.

I believe in eliminating the stigma around mental health

so that we can create better policies and be kinder to others.

And ourselves, she said.

Esmee was pleased by all the warm faces and applause.

After all, Yale was the university that had kicked her out, essentially, for having a mental health crisis.

And now, it was time for her to share her story, to create a new narrative.

I'm Charlene Hong White and this is Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, a fairy tale podcast about the real life rebel women who inspire us.

On this episode, Esmay Wei Jun Wong, a writer and speaker who advocates for herself and others

living with chronic and mental illness. Eight-year-old Esme and two friends played under the bright blue California sky.

They giggled, skipping from shadow to shadow.

Ooh!

As May shouted, as Jessica's foot landed on a patch of sun,

Now we're zombies!

The girls rolled their eyes back and staggered around.

Then Katie got scared.

...