My Nonprofit Reviews

Most teenagers I know think that they’re the only ones going through or have been through difficult times and that no one else their age could possibly understand. I always talk about NVEEE and whenever I mention what it is to someone for the first time and I explain that it's a bullying and suicide prevention organization people stare at me for a second because they just can not believe the words I just said. Speaking about suicide in a normal conversation is very odd to most people but it's so important, bullying and suicide awareness is so important. When you’re in your own thoughts you don’t get to hear the experiences of others and you tend to feel so alone. Sometimes, such negative thoughts like suicide become a person's dirty little secret. From the very beginning of PALS a conversation starts that so many people are too scared to talk about, even with themselves. Being surrounded by others who are sharing their stories about bullying, thoughts of suicide, or their journey in general, is completely life changing – and it may seem odd but it’s also encouraging. To young adults, these moments are precious and indescribable. The significant effect PALS has had on me can not be put into words. I am going into my third year being a staff member at the conference and now I’m the Co- Vice President of the Youth Advisory Council. I’m eternally thankful to the Be a STAR program because now I know we have even more allies working on our behalf, even when we think we are the most alone. Now I know that the future is unpredictable and whether it's a lot of good or bad or both, you have no idea. Life can throw you some terrible situations but I know that one day it’ll be better and it isn't permanent. The only thing that's permanent is the choice to end it all. That's a choice you can’t learn from. Other choices you can learn from and evolve from and change but if you commit suicide, you can't learn from that or go back from that. That was one of the biggest reasons why people need to keep going and why I will keep fighting, more people need to know.