Gone Too Soon

DERRION ALBERT.  Do you know him?  He's a 16-year-old, honor roll student from Chicago who was killed by a group of his peers in front of his school.  It seems as if this horrifying, sad, tragic incident is a case of a young person "being in the wrong place at the wrong time" meeting up with another young person or persons who don't know what to appropriately do with their own anger, frustration and sense of hopelessness.  Unfortunately, there are too many stories about young people "being in the wrong place at the wrong time" and too often the story doesn't end well.  Too, too many of us know of a peer, classmate, sibling, friend or acquaintance who has been the victim of school violence. 

School violence.  A topic that I feel doesn't receive enough attention from young people, parents, other adults and society.  School violence.  Does "society's" lack of shock, outrage, anger and intolerance for this epidemic signal something greatly amiss with us?  School violence.  Is it okay for young people to fight over turf, girls, boys, words spoken, coats, shoes, money, respect?  School violence.  When is it ever ok for a young person to bring a gun, knife or other weapon to school or school events for the purpose of attention, protection or reputation?  School violence.  Why do many young people and adults alike feel this is NOT an issue in their school community but as something that goes on with those "other" kids in that "other" community?  School violence.  Two words that signal to young people that you are not safe, you are not valued, you are not important.

The lesson for young people is this:  Violence is NOT the answer and school violence is NEVER the answer.  It's not okay to solve your problems through fighting.  It's not okay to bring a gun to the school dance.  It's not okay to stab a peer because you don't like the way he or she looks.  It's not okay to harm others with your words or deeds when you aren't feeling good.  It's not okay to "go along" with your friends and support them in chasing someone down and beating them with weapons and objects.  It's not okay to stand by and cheer when someone else is being hurt.  It's not okay to plan to harm your class or your school because you don't know how to express your feelings.  You don't want to make a choice or decision that may cost you your freedom or your future.  Peace and communication are ALWAYS the answer.  Find an adult or other young person you like and trust to talk to about how you are feeling.  Ask them to help you to feel better about yourself.  Read a book about someone who has overcome a similar situation as yours.  Write poetry or short stories to share with others about your experiences.  Be the bigger person and set the positive example to admitting you were wrong when appropriate, apologize when needed and forgive and forget when asked.  Talk to one another and find out that you have more in common than different.  Support one another.  When you see a classmate, peer or friend feeling down or going through something, offer words of encouragement and a listening ear.  Sometimes a smile and a hug is all that is needed.  You will find that if you give this, it comes back to you in your time of need.   

DERRION ALBERT.  May we all, especially young people, learn from what happened to him.  He lost his life at the age of 16 and over something that is not clear.  But what is clear is that he, like too many others, lost his life over something senseless and without merit or meaning.  He will NEVER see his high school graduation.  He will NEVER go to his prom.   He will NEVER see another basketball or football game.  He will NEVER get to hang out with his buddies and play video games.  He will NEVER get to stress over SAT's, college applications, leaving home for the first time.  He will NEVER get to build a career, get married, have a family.  He will NEVER get to experience the joys and sorrows of life.  He will NEVER get to see his parents again and bring them the joy that most young people bring their parents.  He will NEVER get to be what you all are capable of being: good, honest, caring, responsible young people who become good, honest, caring and responsible adults. 

DERRION ALBERT.  Gone too soon.