Letters to the Editor

Letter: 5 seconds of kindness

Little did you know, the boy who you threw against a locker is going into foster care because his parents died in a car accident. That girl you called fat is at home purging herself to have the "perfect body." Little did you know, the boy you called stupid is planning on taking his own life.

In the past year, I have had to experience four suicides. Three of the deaths could not have been foreseen because of the fact that the victim seemed "normal" and did not show any obvious signs of depression — but that one death could have been prevented. That one victim could have been saved.

Some people think, "It's only one person, it won't make a difference," but in reality, that one life means the world to someone. A friend of mine who took her life wrote a letter beforehand, saying, "If someone would have said something, if someone would have made me feel like I was worth fighting for, I would not have gone through with my violent actions."

If one word can change the way someone thinks, why can't one word change their actions? If everyone took five seconds out of their day to say hello to someone, those words could save a life. If you see a person that seems even the slightest bit unlike himself or herself, say something or smile to show you care.

Even if it seems like just a "hello" to you, that "hello" could save a human being. So please, take five seconds of kindness out of your day to save a life. It's that easy.

Jenna Gawrys
Eagle River

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