Treasure Chest of Thoughts

An opportunity…a sad opportunity…but one I could not let pass.

This past week, as we read “Mirror” for our Utopia vs. Dystopia unit, I further introduced my students to Sylvia Plath, who ended her own life, and then I introduced them to a former student of mine who committed suicide this past Wednesday.

During this discussion, I paused and remembered this student and friend…and expressed with them my anger at his selfishness.  (Still cannot get past that emotion.  Oh, if I could just talk to him…just one more time…)

While I had their attention, I reminded them that suicide is just never the answer.  Never.  Not ever.  Then I reminded them that we can never stop listening.  In this super-busy world we live in, listening is the often the last thing we have time for, and that within itself is sad.

As teachers, we cannot afford to not listen.  Consider this:

“Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), surpassed only by accidents and homicide.” (Click here for more information at Kids Health.)

This evening I attended Randy’s visitation and remembered being his English teacher during my first four years as a English teacher…a very bright young man who became quite the successful business man and family man.  While I do not agree with his decision, I cannot help but take a moment to appreciate the memories I had of him, of the man he became.  The man who bought a car for a lady who had no car.  The man who sent a Christmas card every year to a 74 year-old-woman just because he remembered who she was.  The man who recently purchased my sister’s business in a very fair deal.  The man who thought of others…I just wish he had thought more of himself.

Tonight, while standing in the very long, tightly-packed visitation line, my sister commented, “Randy would have really appreciated this.”

My reply?  “I would have rather thrown him a party to show my appreciation!”

With this, I return to my main point, please remind your students to listen, to care enough for each other that when they see someone slipping to the total depth of depression that only one contemplating suicide must be dwelling to tell someone.  Tell a teacher.  Tell a friend.  Just tell someone. 

Are you listening?