Seany Markey - Field Engineer, Outdoor Enthusiast

Sean Markey has spent his life following a path that many in this country consider the ideal American way. Graduate high school, go to college, find a decent job, and enjoy life. He did exactly that. He found his way into a field that allowed him the luxury of being outdoors, since that is where he loves to be. In February of 2020, he took a dream job as a Field Engineer in a city that he loved, Austin, TX. He was getting settled in his new digs in February 2020, right as the pandemic was about to change the world. When the pandemic hit and people were placed in isolation, it alarmed Seany how little was being discussed about mental health. People’s mental health would surely be impacted by the conditions we faced due to lockdowns, losing jobs, and being in situations that may be unhealthy for exceedingly long periods of time. This impacted him on a personal level, because he has lost several close friends to suicide, so he decided to do something about it.

Additionally, he was searching for answers within himself. He knew he needed to break away from society for a bit, so he decided to hike the Appalachian Trail (AT). Many people attempt the journey of over 2,000 miles, but not all are able to finish. Doing something like hiking the AT requires an insane amount of GRIT to be able to push through when you are constantly faced with challenges, discomforts, and just wanting to pack it up and get back to comfy life. Seany had little backpacking experience before he decided to go on this journey, but he knew his soul needed it. He used this opportunity to raise money for Suicide Prevention. He started a blog and an Instagram account and got on his way. He completed the journey in just over 5 months, and he stopped in on his way back to Austin for a quick chat. We hope you enjoy this as much as we did. We look forward to seeing the adventures in Seany’s future. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please seek help. Your life matters and you have a purpose. The world is full of deceptions that make us feel as though we are not “good enough” or do not belong, or that we will never find our way. But that is not true. There are lots of resources for mental health and we want you to know that you are valuable.

 

Blog Website - www.smontheat.com

Instagram -  @sm.onthe.at

Donate - https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/sm-on-the-at1/sean-markey

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - https://afsp.org/