The following article was written by a fifteen year old girl, who happens to be my granddaughter.  She wrote the article for her local newspaper and I feel that it reflects a point of view that deserves to be considered by readers internationally.  It is my hope that children or young people have the opportunity of airing their beliefs frequently.  I think they need to be heard.  They have much to say. 

From the Newspaper “The Signal”
Valencia, CA
April 20, 2001
So Sad, Too Young to Die
By Katlyn Murray

A gun, a noose, a pill, a razorblade; no matter how it happens it is never anything but painful and tragic.  I am talking about suicide, and apparently so are many teenagers.  In the past years, suicide rates have increased tremendously, and it is anything but surprising.  With all of the stressful situations that teenagers face today, more and more of them are looking at suicide as a way out.  Suicide is never a way out, in fact, it causes even more problems; problems for the family and friends of those who choose to take their own lives.  Imagine what it would be like to wake one morning and find out that your best friend has committed suicide.  Unfortunately this is a reality for many people.

There are many reasons why teenagers choose to take their own lives including depression, peer pressure and stress.  While all of these situations are painful and difficult to deal with, none of them are worth taking your life for.  There are no reasons good enough to die for.  I know many people that spend their days contemplating whether or not they want to die at their own hand, and I do not know whether to feel sorry for them or be disgusted by the fact that they are considering ending their lives over situations that probably will not mean anything to them a year from now.  How many times must we hear the words, “I hate my life”, “I wish I had never been born” and “I want to die” before people start to realize the true meaning of the words that they speak so readily.  Suicide is a real action with real consequences.  There is no cure for death; no way to undo it. 

In the movies, on television and in the newspaper, suicide has become a popular topic, but it is rarely shown for what it really is.  Suicide is often glamorized and shown as a dark, sad and even poetic way to die.  It is these kinds of ideals that convince people that suicide is not such a bad thing.  It is a bad thing.  It is a selfish thing.  It is a painful thing.  It is a mistake.  Suicide is not just an act, it is a state of mind; a state of confusion depression, pain and lonliness.  I would think that after hearing all of the negative aspects of taking your own life that nobody would even consider it, but I know that this is untrue.

Many teenagers have considered or even attempted suicide.

The sad reality of life is that along with it comes death, but why face the reality unless you have to?  In my opinion, a few things in life are certain.  First, there is always something worth living for.  If you have nothing to live for, then you are already dead, and any attempt at death would be worthless.

Second, you cannot assume that death is better than life if you can not compare the two.  Finally, if death is inevitable, then you might as well get whatever positive things from life that you can while you are still alive.  A life is the most genuine of possession; consider its value before you throw it away.

Katlyn Murray is an eighth grader at Arroyo Secco Jr. High.