It has changed me. In some ways I view it as making me worse, in others better. Depression made me face a lot of things perhaps sooner than I would have otherwise. I have a better relationship with my mother, I am able to handle myself better. But I also feel scarred for life. I will never forget, and part of me always feels like I'm running from a recurrence of it.

It's obviously best if you never get depressed. but I think, as with most experiences, you can grown and learn from it. It's all in your point of view.