I used to love my hometown. I loved everything about it as a child! My neighborhood was so children centered.. always doing things for the kids. It wasn’t until I got older and started really paying attention that I realized where I live is kind of a messed up place..

One thing in particular that really needs to change is the stress that is put on children/teens. From the time these children are 4 years old they’re expected to be the best at sports, the smartest in preschool and all around be the most successful. Yup.. the most successful at 4 years old. I never really saw it like this when I was young because my parents wouldn’t dream of raising me this way. Long story short- there is truly a suicide epidemic in my hometown. I could name 10 people I have personally known that have committed suicide in the last 8 years, from my high school alone. The parents around here don’t care, the schools don’t care. A 16 year old took her life around 8 months ago. And someone had the nerve to say, “just get on medicine, how are you that sad?” 

WHAT????

Where are people supposed to turn? If you aren’t apart of a picture perfect family around here then you might as well not exist. The pressure and stress put on kids, especially high schoolers is like nothing I’ve seen. High school isn’t supposed to be like that!!!!! No one is there for you, not even your parents. It’s all a competition to these people, and it’s so so sad to see now that I’m older. 

I work with the absolute sweetest girl, we’ll call her K. She breaks my heart everyday because high school has destroyed her mental health. All her parents care about is her getting into a prestigious college like her sisters. They don’t listen to her cries for help and it’s honestly one of the most horrible things I’ve ever seen. This is just one of wayyyy too many examples that happen everyday. I wish I could hug every single person in high school, because I know I needed it. 

This post was hectic! It’s just something that hurts my heart and I’m sure others can relate.