Chloe B., Oakwood High School
Healing Together
My example of helping someone is a little bit different from what you’d expect. I didn’t pick up trash in the neighborhood, or help an elderly person cross the street. It wasn’t exactly a physical way of helping, more of a mental way.
I’ll preface this by saying that on April 11th, earlier this year, my friend group from my old school lost someone. Our close friend (whom I won’t name), took her own life only eight days before her fourteenth birthday. We had known her for four years, and it was a devastating loss. However, my best friend got the worst of it, as she was the closest with her. I was one of the main people who was there for her through this tragedy. I was there for her by just being around for her to lean on, and I talked to her about it. We still talk to each other about it, to this day. Just being available for her to rant, or cry, or anything else. Making her laugh, and comforting her when she’s upset.
It may sound really dark, but even just being there for each other through such a hard time, we grew closer than ever before. As well as supporting her and being there for her psychologically, we also started to hang out one-on-one more, which was actually really enjoyable. In helping each other heal emotionally, we had fun, and made each other happy. We hung out together at the art club we were in, had lots of sleepovers, went out to dinner, and lots of other things that brought us joy. I remember one night she was at my house, and we just stayed up all night talking and laughing. It’s become one of my favorite memories. It’s also made me realize that even though I’m still upset about what happened, it’s made me cherish my best friend more, and almost, in a way, appreciate life more. It’s so important to spend as much time as possible with the people you love, because you never know what could happen. It’s made me be more grateful for what I have, and the life I’ve been given, because it really is so short. Sometimes helping someone is just being there for them to lean on.
Even in hard times, I found a way to help my best friend, and even found happiness during it. In doing so, we also grew a bit as people. It makes me feel good when people rely on me for support, and trust me enough to help them with things.
I hope to do more to help people and raise awareness for suicide prevention. Having said that, the loss of my friend has made me want to help people more, so less people make the choice she did. I want to be there for people when they need it, whether that’s physically or emotionally.
