As a Junior in high school, I met a quiet kid during one of my lunch periods. I had been kicked out of the table I was sitting at because the rule was Seven To A Round Table in our cafeteria, and we were a bit rowdy. So, I chose to sit with a young quiet kid who was by himself. Turns out, he read comic books, watched WWF, and generally reminded me of myself when i was younger (albeit i was only 3 years older than him). He was quiet and didnt engage much at first (looking back i can see why hed be apprehensive about an upper classman sitting with him at lunch for no apparent reason. As the days went by, he opened up, and my friends slowly started migrating to our table. When we first met, he didnt have many friends, and i was happy that my friends had become friendly with him. Eventually, that table got too rowdy also, and i was removed from the lunch period altogether (in all fairness, it wasnt even my assigned lunch period). That was the last time I visited with my young friend, and besides randomly seeing him in the hallways at EHS, along with the occasional high five, our friendship was over. When my senior year started I was hit with some tough news. He had taken his life. I didnt know how to feel. Guilt, remorse, the usual. What happened? What if i hadnt left that lunch period? What if i stayed in touch? Was i TOO cool to be his friend, is that really what it was? I had so many questions, and no answers. I did what i do with most pain, i internalized them, rationalized them, and i made them go away from my heart. All these years later though, hes still in my head, i still think about that kid. Often. Yesterday, for reasons beyond my knowing, i decided to google him (for the first time ever). What are the odds that yesterday was the 14th anniversary of his suicide? Mindblown. On top of that, hes been gone for just about as long as he was here. A young kid with what amounts to several (of his at least) lifetimes ahead of him. Gone Forever. Throughout my Youth Development Career, Ive referenced my old friend countless times. He is a tool, a force, and a beacon of perseverance. For all I know his story may have saved other kids, it may not. But i know for a fact, that he has influenced the lives of the youth i have worked with and continue to work with. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and if you have a moment, read the link at the end of this post for Scotts full story, and how his mother has coped with his loss. Its a great read, and a reminder that: Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. morningjournal/general-news/20121210/facing-suicide-mother-who-lost-elyria-high-school-student-heals-while-helping-others-cope-with-video
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 16:53:45 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015