[Student Reporters] The Yellow Ribbon Program - You Are Not Alone

Karen Lee / <12th, Glendora High School>

Jimmy was a senior in high school and grew up with most of the people in his graduating class. Unfortunately, barely anyone could testify this fact. Ever since middle school, Jimmy was never the social type and was constantly excluded from activities. He grew to understand that he was meant to fly solo in school and that he was a “loner”.

Jimmy had caught the flu and had to miss a week of school. When he returned, Jimmy did not expect a grand party but at least someone, anyone, to realize that he had been missing from his classes. Not one of his six teachers welcomed him back nor acknowledged his returned presence. Jimmy thought he never asked for too much. But he did not understand how not even one person cared. Jimmy made his way to the medicine cabinet in his bathroom. He felt there was nothing more to live for.

High school, the glory years for some, and for others the hardest time to overcome. When teenagers feel like they cannot overcome hardships, many turn to suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people in the West between the ages of 15-24. “That statistic is too high,” Nathan Park, 17, stated. “Our age group is still too young to give up and lose hope.”

Glendora High School has lost one of its students to suicide this month. Vincent Giovanazzi, 17, was a senior and had touched many lives during his time at Glendora High School. As the news was heard that Vincent passed away, students, teachers and many others were extremely devastated. “Vincent never seemed like he was unhappy. He was always smiling,” Michael Brown, 17, said. “I guess he hid his pain behind his smile.”

During the third week of September, the famous Glendora High School torch was lit in memory of Vincent Giovanazzi. Because of such tragedy, Glendora High School consistently promoted the “Yellow Ribbon Week” for national suicide prevention. The Yellow Ribbon Program is based on the premise that suicidal feelings are not about death, but rather about ending pain and that it is okay to ask for help. The program was designed to show that students will always have someone to talk to and that they have permission to reach out for someone who is willing to listen.

Many professionals believe that The Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program should be promoted more often and taken seriously. The U.S. Surgeon General has issued a call to action to address the growing concern of suicide by focusing on awareness, intervention, and methodology. Many lives can be saved by simply reminding peers that there are resources to turn to in times of need.