Your Youth Series - Article 5

Hey guys,

How’s it going? I guess it’s been a while since I wrote last. There’s been a lot going on…but there always is, right?

I guess I was just waiting for the right time, which never seemed to arrive, until now. Instead of my usual theoretical article, I’m going to tell you guys a couple of recent stories… both stories deal with the topic of ‘understanding.’, and how being understood allows us to accept the hard times for what they are, and walk through it.

 Tonight, I was talking to a close friend of mine. We’ve always been close, and I guess I somehow helped her through a rough patch in her life. However, lately, her being in a relationship seemed to have taken a toll on the friendship and closeness. We were talking less and less, and went from immensely close, to what felt like acquaintances in a span of a few months. I think what hurt the most, other than the loss itself, was the fact that I felt...disposed, for lack of better word. I’m sure I’m definitely not the first person to be in this situation… it hurts…It really does. Anyway, after weeks of contemplating solutions, I ended up talking to this friend about how I was feeling. I’m not going to pretend as though we came up with perfect solutions instantaneously, and there were many tears shed, but I can definitely say that talking brought everything to light. Understanding all sides really does make this pain more bearable, and now I know I haven’t lost her at all. We’re both feeling understood – something that was lacking before tonight’s talk. Everything’s going to be okay…I believe that now.

My second story is a little more dramatic. I’m attempting to hide my identity here, so a few details are going to be changed. Two days ago, all lucky twelfth graders enrolled in the joyous English IB program, got the “opportunity” to spend our lunchtime watching a movie in the English classroom. The only 30 minutes of a school day, that we actually get to spend with whoever we want, however we want, we were stuck in a replica of a jail cell, watching a movie that was made half a century ago. [Okay so I’m exaggerating a little!],…Anyway, it had quite honestly been a day from hell. After failing a quiz, and getting called lazy by the teacher who MARKED the quiz, I was ready to crash by lunch. So I was seated next to a friend of mine at this movie-watching-lunch…Let’s call her ‘Hope’. We were talking and laughing as we’d always done, and…Wait, I need to take a step back here. This is hard to type, but….I hurt my arms sometimes, okay? When things don’t feel right, that’s my way of dealing. And please don’t lose respect for me because of it…I’m in the process of stopping, and know I’m strong enough to do so. . Anyway, despite laughing with Hope, I was scratching my arm under the desk. People tend not to notice these subtle details, but somehow, Hope did. She said, “Whaaaaatt?” in a half joking voice, [which I later found out, was to protect me from other people listening to our conversation. ] …at the time though, my heart jumped 360 degrees, and I drew my arm away. I didn’t have to talk or explain anything. I was still in a state of shock, and she drew me into her arms for the rest of the movie. I couldn’t stop shaking... It was scary, that she found out. I’m sure people can relate to that.

Despite the shaking, the hug made me feel understood, even if it was only for that short period of time.

So now you’re probably wondering my reasons for sharing this last story. Firstly, to say that we’re all slightly broken, and that’s okay ; it makes us real. And secondly, to say that even if you feel like nobody would understand what you’re going through, you’d be surprised how many are going through/have been through something very similar. We ARE all living in this same world and you’re never truly alone.

“We all bleed the same way as you do..” – Good Charlotte in Hold On.

Had to throw in a GC quote there!

I hope these stories have a positive impact on your lives…Even if you haven’t found them yet, there are always people out there understanding you – people on your side.

I love you.

- The article writer.