This summer, senior Duncan Coogan decided it was time for an awakening.

On August 14 at 8:30 p.m., Coogan and junior Molly Sheban gathered “everyone and anyone” that wanted to come in the parking lot of Northbrook Junior High School for an event called Light up the Darkness. About 500 candles were passed out to students and parents who then walked around Northbrook together for depression awareness.

“Too many people have suffered from depression, and not enough people know about it, so I wanted to come up with an event that would show depression awareness,” said Coogan. “We physically and spiritually lit up the darkness.”

Once participants finished the three-mile route, speakers  were able to share their stories and struggles to the group.

Junior Harper Simpson, who attended Light up the Darkness and walked the route, said she really enjoyed the speeches and thought they were “very inspiring.”

“It was cool to have people be able to speak so openly about issues they’ve had or be able to express their feelings,” Simpson said.

Sheban said she liked that Light up the Darkness was “a way to bring everyone together under the light of the same candles.”

“Everyone is struggling with something and everyone needs to know it’s okay to go and talk to someone else about what is hurting you underneath,” Sheban said.

Sheban thinks people in Northbrook needed to know “we’re all going to be here for each other, no matter what.”

Simpson said she enjoyed the positive atmosphere the event provided.

“I imagined Light up the Darkness where everyone would come in and walk together in silence,” said Simpson. “I imagined it more like a grieving process, but … there was hope, people just seemed happier.”

Even though Simpson did not know all the people at the event, she said she felt like everyone was “joined together.”

She believes people turned the grieving from this summer into something positive.

“We saw the change in the community, where we all came together,” said Simpson. “The community of Northbrook and GBN became stronger.”

Maggie Bruce, St. Norbert’s youth ministry coordinator, said she thought Light up the Darkness was a “beautiful night.”

“I was honored to be able to speak to everyone after the walk,” said Bruce. “I was so proud of the teens who spoke, and their words were very powerful for everyone there. I am very thankful for Molly Sheban and Duncan Coogan in arranging this awesome event, and I pray that our community keeps working towards bringing depression out of the darkness and into the light.”

Coogan and Sheban hope to be able to make Light up the Darkness an annual event in Northbrook. Sheban said when they got home after the night, they saw people on Facebook posting how they “couldn’t wait to do this next year.”

“What I hope this event will leave is that more people are more open about their depression and know it’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Coogan. “You need to tell someone about it and be accepting towards others who are suffering.”