Death and All of His Friends

Salvete,

This is sort of a continuation of the previous post.

As some of you who (probably don't) read this blog may remember, I had a student (let's call him Christopher) attempt suicide last year. He shot himself through the chin, and fortunately did not have enough sense to angle the gun to do the job thoroughly. His lack of attention to detail led to him destroying his face and tongue, which had to be reconstructed through many painful surgeries. I went to visit him when he was in the hospital -- mouth wired shut, trach tube in, and down to a skeletal 95 pounds.

Late last week, Christopher opened my door and came into my classroom with the same goofy, optimistic smile that I remembered. His face is a bit different, and his teeth are not what they once were, but he still gave off that air of confidence and adolescent joy that he usually did around me. He hugged me and overwhelmed me with his repeated thanks of coming to see him in the hospital. He told me that not many people did, and that he appreciated me taking the time to visit. I was honestly surprised he remembered, as the number of drugs he must have been on at the time was probably substantial. He told me about the surgeries yet to come and told me he would come see me again.

Yesterday morning we got an email that an 11th grade student, though not one I know, had died at home the previous night. Word got around that it was suicide, though I have not had any official reports as far as the cause of death. The sorrow I feel for his family, teachers, and classmates connects directly to the sorrow I felt when I heard Christopher had shot himself last year. I am thankful that my student lived, and so sad that this other student died. These kids still have so much to do. Heck, I still have so much to do, so many people to meet, so many people to love.

So to you, my non-readers, I say, value the people in your life and know that your life is valued by others. Taking yourself away from them is not a solution, it is a creation of more problems. Take pity on those of us who love you and stay with us a while longer. Things will get better.

Valete,
Magistra