As a teenager Crystal Holdipp was battling with a bout of depression when she started using poetry to lift her mood.She wrote about everyday issues her feelings of rejection, the quest to feel beautiful and the pain in being judged and criticised by others.Ms Holdipp, now age 25, has decided to publish ‘Poems from the Heart’, a collection of her favourite pieces.She wants her writings to inspire others and give them hope for a brighter future.She told The Royal Gazette: “From the ages of 16 to 19 I struggled with depression a lot.“Poetry helped me to release my feelings in a positive way [and] helped me to encourage myself in difficult times. Also, during those times, I used to write letters to God.”Ms Holdipp is a dedicated member of Core Ministries Church; as a result, many of the 25 poems in her collection have a spiritual message.In ‘A Wound that Won’t Heal’ she writes:“Long ago that wound began,And I just don’t want to face it again.Tried to cover it up with so many things,But when I do the more pain it brings.Lord I want this pain to end,My broken heart can you please mend.”As a youngster she said she was shy and quiet and never imagined she would release her writing to the public.Through going to church she developed more confidence and gradually began to release some of her poems online two years ago. Positive feedback gave her the courage to release her first e-book.“I was writing spiritual and inspirational stuff and things to do with everyday living; [things that] that people deal with every day.“People said how much they enjoyed it and I began to consider if writing was something I would like to pursue.”Ms Holdipp works at the Bermuda College part-time. She is also taking online courses in writing and hopes to one day become a journalist.She said she wanted the book to be a source of encouragement to others.“I want people to be inspired that whatever they go through God is still able and will make a way for them and he can still use them in spite of their struggles.“I cover issues like beauty. People look at beauty on the outside as important but it’s what’s inside that matters most.“I talk about what real success is. For me it’s whatever level you are at. You might not have the big car, house and all the things people think you should have, but whatever level you are at, as long as it’s your best, that’s real success.”Her poem ‘Silent Voice’ is about times when she was too afraid to speak up about things she felt important.The poet encourages people to face their fears and stand up for what they believe in.Each of her poems is about an issue close to her heart, something she’s dealt with first-hand.“Having the book released I feel a mixture of different feelings. Excitement because I am finally really stepping out and using my gift and having that confidence no matter what I feel inwardly I am just stepping out in faith and I know this can make a difference in people’s lives.“On the other hand I’m nervous because it’s some of my experiences in there and it makes me feel very vulnerable. It puts you in a place where sometimes it can be held against you when you get your personal experiences out.“But my ultimate hope for this was to encourage and inspire someone else’s life and of all my dreams and what I wanted to do most importantly was touching lives and making a difference.”The book is sold for $10 at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital gift store; and $11.50 at Brown and Co. The book is also available at amazon.com for $8 and as an e-book for $4.99 on her website, www.crystalholdipp.com.Ms Holdipp will sign copies of her book at Brown and Co on Saturday from 11am until 2pm.