March 2018 Booster Redux

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Pittsburg High School 1978 E. 4th Street Pittsburg, KS 66762

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This is what has been done to instigate change in light of controversial issues. Turn the page to start the conversation.

Friday, March 2, 2018 Vol. 100 Issue 7

Op/Ed

Friday, March 2, 2018

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Staff editorial: .

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s we’re sure you can tell, this issue does not resemble our typical monthly coverage. Our staff members felt an inherent obligation to address not only our nation’s divisive political climate, but also to bring to the forefront our society’s apparent inability to speak responsibly about controversial issues. We are no strangers to the difficulty of discussing uncomfortable topics as a staff. However, on Feb. 14, when a shooter entered Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., and killed 17 people, we, as editors, hesitated to initiate a conversation on the tragedy. Knowing the diverse opinions of our staff and the impassioned debates that may arise from the aftermath of school shootings, we did not want to create animosity in the classroom. And besides, we had stories to edit, photos to capture and pages to design. We felt it was important to redirect our focus to finishing our original March content. However, the guilt of pushing aside this incident weighed on us. Ultimately, we could no longer ignore the political strife in our country. The matter at hand demanded our attention. We put our publication on hold to talk about the school shooting in Parkland as a staff. Our conversation about the current event quickly grew into a much bigger discussion. As we began to understand the magnitude, we became more frustrated with

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our nation because the school shooting brought to light a deeper issue — the issue of not being able to talk comfortably about controversial topics. Not every member of our staff shares the same political views, but everyone collectively agreed on the need to address this situation. With this fire lit inside of us, we decided to pursue this alternative coverage in order to create conversation surrounding a variety of topics ranging from mental illness to racism, rather than leaving them unspoken. We know these are not the only pressing issues in our country, but these are a few we knew were affecting our school. The stark appearance of our front page symbolizes our society’s lack of dialogue regarding these topics. We share many diverse opinions on gun control to show how the issue is not black and white, but every shade in between. Appropriately, the simplistic color scheme reflects this approach. As you will see, most of the reporting was compiled through surveys and interviews because we want to leave the conversation up to you. We aimed to cover as many perspectives as possible by allowing students, staff, the community and journalism programs around the nation to share their stories and viewpoints. These people, among many others, have been ignored amidst arguments on social and political issues. This issue is a collaborative effort be-

tween our writers, designers and photographers, so we did not include bylines or photo credits to let the content speak for itself. We want to applaud our staff for their diligent work. We also wanted to thank those who came forward with their stories and opinions. This issue would not have been possible without you, and we celebrate your courage by sharing your experiences. Overall, the purpose of this publication is to bring awareness to the students and topics often forgotten and to ignite a passion within our community to stop dismissing these problems so quickly. When will enough be enough? To those wanting to use their voice, we are with you. The signatures below signify solidarity as a staff despite political differences because we all need to express our concerns through civil discourse. Student activism is alive and well. Through tweets, speeches and meetings with representatives, Parkland survivors continue to show persistence in supporting their cause. To quote the Washington Post, “Democracy dies in darkness.� Shine a light on the issues that matter to you. To start the discussion, sign the pledge on the back page and commit to speaking out about issues to enact change. We are joining the conversation with Marjory Stoneman Douglas. We will not be silenced.

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Friday, March 2, 2017

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Across the nation

High school publications share sensitive community topics Bryant, Arkansas Bryant High School Prospective Population: 2,700 “There are many different opinions on school shootings. Some people believe ever yone should have guns no mat ter what and others believe gun purchases should be strictly controlled.� New Plymouth, Idaho New Plymouth High School Pilgrim Press Population: 310 “Teen suicide is a major issue because high schoolers are killing themselves and no one knows why.� Huntley, Illinois Huntley High School Harmony Population: 3,000 “There is a lack of representation in our diverse student population. A diversit y club was formed for students who felt under represented.� Lincolnshire, Illinois Stevenson High School Statesman Population: 4,200 “Standards are controversial versus the traditional grading policy because of understanding points and the impor tance of GPA.� Dubuque, Iowa Wahlert Catholic High School The Gleaner Population: 510 “Our Catholic faith has specific ideas as to what’s right and wrong concer ning

sexual orientation. Since parishes suppor t our school, they expect those beliefs to be fostered.� Wichita, Kansas Wichita East High School Messenger Population: 2,300 “Numerous students are undocumented, but they want to tell their stor ies with anonymit y.� Louisville, Kentucky duPont Manual High School Manual RedEye Population: 1,900 “The principal supposedly asked about a transgender student’s genitals and said racist remarks while being recorded on tape. He was reprimanded, but some believe he should be fired.� Linden, Michigan Linden High School Linden Legend Population: 1,000 “95 percent of parents are suppor tive of our cur r iculum, but a small faction is tr ying to ‘get their way’ with banning books.� St. Charles, Missouri Francis Howell North High School North Star Population: 2,400 “Different viewpoints on polarizing political issues often clash. When people don’t agree with something, they call it fake news.� Big Timber, Montana

Sweet Grass County High School The Sheepherder Population: 160 “Our school is isolated and there is not a lot of diversit y, so it can be difficult for some students to understand discr imination since they have no personal exper ience.� Omaha, Nebraska Marian High School The Network Population: 700 “Since we are a Catholic school, we have problems cover ing any thing that has any sor t of philosophy that isn’t pro-life.� Las Vegas, Nevada Desert Pines High School The Jaguar Post Population: 3,500 “Many administrators are not transparent or fair when it comes to spor ts versus academic funding. For example, the librar y closed at one school and elective teaching positions closed at several schools.� Hammonton, New Jersey Hammonton High School The Devil’s Advocate Population: 1,400 “On the issue of shootings, our school is content with the status quo regarding school secur it y.� Chaparral, New Mexico Chaparral High School The Howler Population: 1,100 “[No one knows] where the boundar y is for the school

to act regarding social media abuse and cyberbullying.� Corpus Christi, Texas Carroll High School The Anchor Yearbook Population: 2,000 “[People are] not aware of the war ning signs of suicide and are not repor ting signs of bullying to adults.� Mesquite, Texas West Mesquite High School The Roundup Population: 2,000 Lack of school spir it “[There is] a high teacher tur nover and total lack of student involvement.� Southlake, Texas Carroll Senior High School The Dragon Population: 1,350 “Many students are afraid and angr y about school shootings after Parkland.� Mercer Island, Washington Mercer Island High School The MIHS Islander Population: 1,500 “With #MeToo, a lot of the young men in our readership feel like they are being singled out for behavior that they are not responsible for.� Rockford, Washington Freeman High School The Bagpiper Population: 320 “We had a [school] shooting this year, so the topic is a difficult one for us each time it’s in the news.�

Over The

Booster

Friday, March 2, 2018

Taking aim o "Gun violence is a matter of the people with the guns as well as the easy access to the weaponry. If a person wants to go out and kill someone, guns or not, they will be able to do it. The simplicity that guns bring to that process is insane. For example, look at bump stocks. They literally make any semiautomatic gun fully automatic, which is ridiculous. These people having access to guns so easily simplifies the process of just going out and killing people because they want to." - PHS Student from anonymous survey

On Feb. 28 Walmart will raise the age restriction to 21 for firearm and ammunition purchases and discontinue items resembling assault-styl rifles, including toys and air guns.

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Students discuss viewpoint on

We are having an issue here, and people are dying. From one hunter to another, I understand that there’s the Second Amendment. But when the Second Amendment was made, [we did not have the] rifles and technology we have now. People are losing their lives, so obviously there needs to be a change one way or another. If it means more gun control, then yes. There have been so many lives lost. I don’t think it should take somebody putting a gun to the head of your child for you to wake up and be like, ‘Oh, this is an issue.’ I don’t want to have to say there should be an age restriction. In my mind, if you’re an adult, go buy a gun if you want one. Something must have happened to that kid [in Parkland, Florida] that made him want to go shoot up this school. I just think we’re not dealing with the issues of people. Instead, we’re trying to deal with the issues of what the people are using. There are issues in our school where people are just awful to other kids. Be nice to other people. We should stop ignoring issues. I wish people who hunt and own guns wouldn’t get so upset and heated about it because obviously we’re not going to freak out and take all of your guns. We’re trying to save lives.

! " My overall opinion on gun control is automatic weapons, especially automatic rifles and bump stocks, should be banned as purchases from the general public. I don’t think anyone needs an AR-15. My husband probably had about 40 or 50 guns, and I still have 12. I’m not anti-gun, and I think it’s fine to have shotguns, handguns and rifles. But, there has to be a reason why school shooters are disproportionately young, white men. What’s the reasoning behind this and what compels them to take other people’s lives? You can’t just say they are all mentally ill or insane. What needs to change is [we need] to get new people in Congress, which will change the laws protecting our children, and not go off on some radical tangent that we should arm teachers. That would mean we are accepting the status quo that school shootings are just going to happen. Instead of preventing school shootings, we are going to weaponize teachers? That’s the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life. I totally agree with the Parkland survivors when they say politicians have been taking money from the NRA and the blood of these children is on their hands. I honestly hope they are going to make a difference and change things, because Congress has to act to protect the citizens and the school children of America.

Guns are necessary to defend yourself. They’re for hunting and defending you and your family. It is part of the Constitution to protect yourself from tyrannical government in case something were to happen. Gun control would not be effective. [People] would still be able to get unregistered guns. They’d be able to get these guns no matter what. I have guns around my house. I don’t go shooting a whole lot, maybe once a year. It’s not very often, but I enjoy it. It’s fun. There’s planning involved in it, which is a big thing. It’s an enjoyable experience. [Second Amendment rights are] an important thing for me to have. It’s an important thing for all citizens under the U.S. Constitution to have.

I believe every citizen of the United States of America should have the right to bear arms. That is just one of the reasons that makes this the greatest country in the world. No matter how much you abuse, neglect or mistreat a firearm, it will never walk over to you and shoot you. This is because a gun is a non-living object, which doesn’t kill people. When someone dies due to a drunk driver they don’t blame the car, they blame the driver, so why is everyone blaming the guns? Every teacher in a school should have the choice to possess a firearm during school to help ensure the safety of students and teachers in a scenario like a school shooting.

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I think if we were going to have more gun control, it would have to be more safety precautions because not letting people have guns isn’t going to solve the problem. They will just find another gun. Guns are a big part in my life. I was taught at a very young age to respect them. They are very dangerous weapons, and we use them quite a bit. The Second Amendment was put there for a reason, and we definitely have a right to be able to protect ourselves with guns. But, if it is a more dangerous gun, like a ranged gun, then you should have to be older, and background checks should be a little more stricter just make sure their history is clean, and to find out what they plan to do with it. I think the school shootings could have been preventable. I understand schools are big, but if you saw the problem child who might be showing signs, or acting strange, the situation would have be preventable if we had more armed people in schools. If we had one teacher in each hallway who was certified with a gun, I think less kids would die.

When we talk about the Secon a citizen does have the right to they need to start cracking dow have in the hands of citizens. T that go into the subject. We sta issues, these kids who are too because they think the counsel their parents or they are just no er, so mental health is worseni right after a school or mass sho very seriously. I tend to hear st about, ‘Oh, I’m going to be the just making light of the situatio ly. Then, there comes the issue that kids just have too easy of should have their hands on a w people within seconds. We also show loopholes so people can’ ple’s trunks in Walmart parkin donations from the NRA lobby because it’s just a money game trading children’s lives for mon

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I’m not an expert by any mean can look at the news and see w do believe we need stricter gu our politicians want to make it you have to jump through a bu purchase a deadly weapon tha have the same standard. We ha own firearms, but I think there to be restrictions because whe Amendment, [weapons were] n know if our founding fathers e Columbine was the first big sch 20 years and nothing has happ destructive weapons now. It m to it and I’m a little cynical. No the same thing on the news, an these shootings. But lately with pumped up, and made me prou made me hopeful based on how

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on a difficult topic 72 very necessary

105 somewhat necessary 17 not necessary In Kansas anyone over the age of 18 can purchase a firearm without a permit. Buyers must be 21 to purchase a handgun, unless purchased from a private seller.

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nd Amendment, I do believe that o own a firearm. But I feel that wn on what kind of guns we There are a number of factors art off with mental health scared to go to the counselors lors are going to report them to ot going to help them whatsoevng. With the issue of bullying, ooting happens, it isn’t taken udents in the hallways joking e next school shooter’ and on. It’s just not taken seriousof access of firearms: I feel access to weapons. No citizen weapon that can kill multiple o need to be closing the gun ’t buy these guns out of peong lots. Also, impose how many yists or politicians can take e and it’s absolutely sick. We are ney and it’s tragic.

ns, but I do feel like, anecdotally, I what’s happening in our country. I n control laws. It seems like a lot of harder to vote. To become a teacher, unch of hoops, which is fine, but to t can kill a lot of people, we should ave the Second Amendment right to e needs to be a limit. There needs en they came up with the Second nothing like they are today. I don’t nvisioned it to be the way it is today. hool shooting. That’s been almost pened. It’s almost easier to get highly makes me feel bad, I’m a little numb ow I’m teaching and I’m still seeing nd I’m seeing the same responses to h the kids in Florida, it’s gotten me ud of the younger generation. It’s w they’ve responded.

# $ [Gun control] is not going to work. If you are for gun control, you can [look at] Chicago. It has the strictest gun laws in the world and it’s one of the deadliest cities in the United States, so I disagree. If you look at all of the recent shootings that we’ve had, we didn’t have that many [school shooters] until we made such a big deal out of the first few and glorified them instead of glorifying the victims. You know, the ones who risked their lives and the ones who died? Instead, we made the school shooter more popular until all of the other [shooters wanted attention] and said, ‘That’s the way I can get attention.’ If someone’s going to shoot someplace up, they’re not going to go to a place where there are armed guards, where they can be stopped red-handed. They’re going to go to the easiest target and 90 percent of mass shootings happen in gun-free zones. You can arm a teacher if they have the right training, you can have one in each buildings. If we have armed teachers, armed guards, armed veterans, armed whatever protecting schools, I think it will drastically drop mass shootings.

It depends on the situation. I feel like bump-stocks ban and more background checks are good. But if we’re talking about banning assault rifles, I don’t agree with that because there’s not much [of a] difference between assault rifles and regular hunting rifles. If you’re a law-abiding citizen, you have the right to own the gun of your choice. If you’re not a law-abiding citizen, you should not be able to have guns. If you take guns away from the law-abiding citizens, the criminals will still find a way to get guns. I feel like schools have a great way of taking action with ALICE and being defensive. But I feel like we need to take the offensive side. If certain teachers go through background checks, they should be able to carry guns. Not [that long ago], more people had more guns per capita than we do today. That’s a big part of it. None of those guns killed anybody, none of those guns did anything to anybody because nobody ever thought about that. I know people used to bring their guns to school and show them off to their buddies. They would go home and go hunting after school. I feel that it’s not the gun’s fault, it’s the people’s fault.

My entire family owns guns, and I grew up with two gun safes inside my home. I definitely think the age limits and restrictions need to be changed. No 18-year-old needs to own an AR-15, and there definitely need to be harsher laws and background checks on all types of weapons no matter what. [Although], I own two AR-15s, but I don’t use them for anything. I think the Second Amendment was made for guns, but it wasn’t meant for semi-automatic guns that can take people down. Especially with the attachments you can get for them. In my point of view, a lot of school shootings have a lot to do with how [students] are treated in school. I know it’s not right, but they think it’s the only way to lash out at the people that hurt them [mentally]. Making harsher gun laws and by doing more background checks, we could eliminate some of the issues, but it still won’t solve them all. It is a terrible subject, and I think we need to do something about that.

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School is a place where you’re supposed to feel safe without worrying about someone coming in and shooting you. If you have an assault rifle, I believe you should only be able to have a five-round clip. If you own a magazine that can hold over 30 [rounds], you should be 21. I think the best way to go is stricter gun restrictions and maybe more officers in schools. You should have a thorough background check, what crimes you have committed and all that stuff. I also think that if you are able to own one of these weapons, you have to go through certain training. A lot of it maybe has to do with bullying, illness or what goes on at home. We don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. If you see someone who’s down or needs help, you should reach out and just help people. It’s a hard world and we have to help people. Just do whatever you can to reach out and help someone in need.

"" I fall somewhere in the middle on gun control. I’m an avid hunter and land owner in Missouri. I own a farm. I own guns, which are used for hunting. I see no need to own an automatic rifle. I believe in the Second Amendment. We have the right to protect ourselves and our property. I also believe I don’t have the right to tell anybody what you [can] or cannot own. Here’s what I believe. One, as administrators, we have a job to provide the safest environment we possibly can to our students. I think the number one rule is students should go to school and feel safe. We do what we can to protect students while they’re here. At my core, school shootings are a reflection of a larger issue in society on the topic of mental health, and I believe any way we can help that will reduce school shootings even more than just gun control.

Voic The

Boost

Friday, March. 2, 2018

stepping int

“I’m not a stranger to mental illnesses...�

“My father was a victim of suicide last March. It’s been a long journey trying to figure out who I am and how this is eventually going to impact me. I try to act fine and remind myself that every day is a new day and getting through it without my dad is something I have to do now. I’m not saying I don’t have questions, or I don’t feel awful. I’m not a stranger to mental illnesses and I’ve dealt with my own issues too, but there’s a stigma. I have been diagnosed, but I haven’t seen a counselor since my dad died. In eighth grade, I saw a counselor and took medication. When people ask me how my father died, I try not to talk about it unless I’m comfortable [with the person]. My father being diagnosed comforts me; I know he suffered for a long time. It’s not something a person in their right mind does. He was in counseling for years, and he was on more medications than I could count. He tried his best but, in the end, it wasn’t enough. A couple days after he passed away, I went to the state TSA conference for three days. The day I got back was his wake. I had to get my prom dress the same day as his funeral. After my responsibilities were done, I crashed. I would go weeks without turning stuff in for classes. I still struggle with that, but not as bad. The lowest point was a week after it happened. I’d had nightmares every night. I’m not looking for people to give me sympathetic looks in the hallways. I’m looking to tell people they are not alone. I understand what it’s like to be in the trenches of mental illness, and what it’s like to see someone deal with an mental illness. It’s not easy.�

“It doesn’t matter how good your life looks from the outside.�

“My mom has depression. I remember she would always come home from work and take a nap. I never understood why until I wanted to just come home and take a nap. Depression just makes you feel like you’re dragging your feet through mud. You can’t keep going. You don’t have any motivation. You don’t want to get up. Things that seemed so fun are boring now. You could be happy, but no matter what you’re doing, you just don’t feel that pure happiness that you had felt before. [Life] just feels kind of muted. I don’t have nearly as much motivation as I used to. I push my friends away because it’s easier than opening up and letting them know that I’m upset. I’ve been on several antidepressants and none of them seem to be working very well. I stress myself out a lot, and then I get stressed over my friends. It gets really overwhelming. There’s this idea people have that if you’re from a well-off family or if you look like you have your life together, then you can’t possibly have depression or any type of mental illness because what do you have to be upset about? I feel like I took that on, and I just try to hide [my depression] and pretend to be happy. I [asked myself], ‘Yeah, what do you have to be upset about, Amber? You have nothing. Your life is fine.’ It doesn’t matter how good your life looks from the outside. You could still very easily have a mental illness. It’s not your fault and you didn’t choose it.�

“...It’s the emotional abuse that hurt the worst.“ !

“I remember the abuse by my stepfather happening when I was 8 to 11. At first, it would be just a slap. But it gradually got worse. He would hit my chest or smack me with a belt in areas that people couldn’t see. Then, he would lock me in the closet because he didn’t want to hear me cry. Every day, I was quiet and afraid to say anything because I was afraid of retaliation from anyone. He isolated my brothers, my mom, and me from family and friends. He made us depend on him for everything: food, money, clothes. He was very controlling and possessive towards my mother. He had to know where and who she was with at all times. He refused to let me call my biological father ‘dad’ and made me call him ‘dad.’ If I didn’t, I would be slapped or he would hit me. Not only would he abuse me physically, but emotionally as well. Some of the things he said made me feel worthless, like I’d never be anything special and no one could ever love me. I was very depressed, even though I was young. I attempted suicide when I was nine because I couldn’t handle it anymore. Eventually, my mom secretly made us pack some clothes and we all left to go to my grandma’s. Even though the physical abuse hurt, it’s the emotional abuse that hurt the worst. When you have someone telling you that you’re worthless, ugly, fat or a nobody every day, it stays there longer than any bruise or scar. Occasionally, I’ll have flashbacks, but I try not to let it bother me. I still get depressed and question my worth, but I try to stay positive and keep a smile.�

“I felt scared as a child and I was angry...� ! " # “My mother went to prison a lot. She was neglectful towards her children. When I was young, about three or four years old, she was babysitting me. She tried to put a landline in the bath to kill me, but her roommate reported it. She was always trying to take me from where I was. She went to my house one time, threatened my grandmother and tried to take me to her car. I felt scared as a child and I was angry at my mother for leaving and not being there. I didn’t see her much. Before that, she was abusive to my father. When she threatened to leave, he was like, ‘Okay, do that.’ She threw a lamp at his back, and he’s always had back problems because of that. My dad got child custody rights of me, and she’s been in jail for... I don’t remember how many years. There’s been sadness: I grew up without a mother and a stable family. It weighs on you. I never felt like it was something that had to do with me, just my mother. [I may talk to her] when I’m older, to say some things I never could as a kid. When you’re growing up with someone who did this, you can’t get the answers by just thinking about it, so I kind of just live with it.�

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to the light “I didn’t see myself as normal or as good as white people.� “My first memory of racism was before kindergarten when the neighbor’s kid tried to pour bleach on me to try to make me ‘prettier’ because he couldn’t play with black kids. I was confused at the moment but, as I got older, that statement and others affected how I saw myself. I didn’t see myself as normal or as good as white people. The first time I ever got into a fight with another kid was in third grade at my elementary school.. That day, they were trying to push me around. Every time I said something, they would either throw wood chips at me or tell me to shut up. I finally stood up and asked them why they were doing this, and they said that it doesn’t matter how smart or how nice I am because I’m still a porch monkey at the end of the day. They pushed me to the ground with a couple of kicks and a half-hearted punch. At the time, I was very confused because I didn’t understand what was happening or why it was happening. I was scared because I knew that it didn’t matter if I’m Albert Einstein or if I had the cure for cancer, I’m a nigger and that’s not acceptable. Just because someone has an opinion that, because I’m black, I can’t do certain things, that holds no weight to my confidence or my abilities anymore because I’m not scared. As soon as I start to believe it, that’s when it starts to become truth. I survived the effects that it had on me. The internalized hate that I had for myself has been the [most] dangerous.�

“I felt alone because I didn’t have anyone to talk to.� “I came from Zacatecas, Mexico, because my family is here and there are more opportunities to study here. My brothers were here already and my mom has her family, who was already here. When I am 22, I have to renew my visa. It is good here because the schools give us more opportunities. In Mexico, there isn’t much work and you have to pay for an education if you want to keep studying. I was in ninth grade in Mexico when I came here. A teacher told me that if I wanted to go back, they would hold me back and I wouldn’t be able to study. I’m glad I stayed because I wasn’t planning on studying up until high school in Mexico. The majority of the Hispanic students here are from Guatemala or El Salvador. When I first got here, I felt alone because I didn’t have anyone to talk to since they all spoke a different dialect. English was very difficult. I didn’t understand anything. People would ask me things and I began to speak. I was embarrassed at first, and I still am a little, but now I understand more things. I’ve never been marginalized; everyone treats me well. That’s why I like it here because I know that there are other places that discriminate because people are Hispanic. All the students and teachers treat me fine. My friend didn’t want to come here. I told her that [the Hispanic population] supports each other here. When you first start in the US, it may seem hard but then it seems normal. Everything is difficult, but anything can be done.�

“I am proud of myself. I am happy that I came out.� “I realized I was gay when I was in the seventh grade. I remember dating girls to try and be straight before I recognized I was gay. When I came out, I didn’t care who knew, so it slowly spread through the school. Coming out to my friends was easy. It lifted this weight off my shoulders. I felt like I could be myself. With my parents, it was different. They do not support me at all. It’s hard knowing your parents don’t like you because you like the same sex. But it feels so much better to be out, even with my parents. I feel so free. Sometimes I get called a faggot by someone and it’s hard because I know not everyone will accept me. I just want to be like everyone else and have a family and be happy. Being out, you start to learn who you are better because you actually get to be yourself. I wish more people would come out and be themselves instead of always being scared someone might find out. Why be scared for the rest of your life? I am proud of myself. I am happy that I came out. It’s so much easier to be yourself rather than being someone else. It’s very tiring. Being gay didn’t change my personality or how I act. I have always been like this. It was just the fact that I accepted myself for who I am.�

“It was really difficult to accept that I was in a body I didn’t want to be in.� “I knew from a young age that I was interested in boys and girls. I just didn’t know how to address it. I did some research and discovered that I was pansexual. That was also the time I started getting confused about my gender identity. One day, I looked in the mirror and said, ‘I’m trans. I’m a boy.’ I felt a major weight get off my chest. Three days before my birthday, I sat down with my mom and I came out as transgender. After that, I began coming out to my grandparents. I ended up coming out to all my friends. In the process of losing friends, I also gained a lot who fully support me. It’s been a love/hate relationship with coming out. During the beginning of my transition, I had suicidal thoughts. It was really difficult to accept that I was in a body I didn’t want to be in. If you are questioning or coming out, take as long as you need to. Take your time with it because it’s a life-changing decision, whether you want to act on it. To anyone who’s reading the paper and hasn’t personally gone through this: please be respectful of people who do because it’s very difficult and it’s something that they have to deal with every day.�

Percent of each race that is bullied in school

!

25%

46%

17% 22%

40%

$%&' !

"

entalIllness.org | DoSomething.org | Pacer.org

42% #

"

9%

Hotlines

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 National Sexual Assault Helpline 800-656-HOPE Trevor Hotline (LGBTQ) 1-866-4-U-TREVOR National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE National Domestic Violence Hotline Spanish 1-800-942-6908

69% $%&'

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After reading this issue... I pledge to no longer shy away from discussing difficult topics and to engage in challenging conversations. To be invested in my community. To respect different opinions. To be kind and considerate to one another. Finally, to add my voice to the dialogue of change for my generation and the next.

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