JDRF Can Make Type One Become Type None

By: Gabrielle Enos


              The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is an impactful way to raise money for critically needed type 1 diabetes research, and to show your support for the millions of people affect by this serious disease.

                Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas loses the ability to produce insulin – a hormone essential to turning food into energy.  It strikes both children and adults suddenly, and is unrelated to diet and lifestyle.  It requires constant carbohydrate counting, blood-glucose testing, and lifelong dependence on injected insulin.

             With type 1 diabetes, there are no days off, and there is no cure.  That is why JDRF holds more than 200 walks across the country to raise money for JDRF – the only global organization with a strategic research plan to end type 1 diabetes.  

                The JDRF has raised more than one billion dollars through hard work and the generosity from communities and cities like Albany.  Every dollar JDRF directs toward research comes from donors.  So the more the walkers raise, the closer they are to reaching the goal of a world without type 1 diabetes.

                My brother, Cameron Enos, and I were both diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at a young age.  Since then it has affected my family’s lives in ways that I can’t begin to describe.  My family and I do the JDRF walk every year, and try to see how much money we can raise to help find a cure.  Last year our team raised about $2000 dollars toward the cause.  Every year JDRF brings together more than 900,000 people to change the future of Type 1 Diabetes.  Many of these people have the disease themselves, and many more are friends, family, or coworkers of someone challenged by this disease.  But no matter what their connection is, they walk because they believe in a world where diabetes no longer exists – a world where Type One has become Type None.

Each year, JDRF funds millions of dollars in life-changing research.  This research has led to breakthroughs such as artificial pancreas systems and encapsulated beta cell therapies, both of which have moved into clinical trials.  This three mile walk will be held on May 3, 2015, at the University of Albany.  The check in time is at 9:30 A.M. and the walks starts at 11:00 A.M.  The goal is to raise $354,000 and so far they have raised $14,433.49. 

Wrong Call

By: Ben Hart

                 On Sunday, January 4th, the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Detroit Lions in what many may call the most controversial game of the year.  With just minutes left in the game, which what would probably have been the game winning drive for the Lions, Cowboys defender Anthony Hitchens looked as if he was holding Lions’ receiver Brandon Pettigrew and a holding penalty was called on Dallas, giving the Lions a first down after converting on fourth due to the penalty. However, shortly after the referee picked up the flag and the holding call was reversed, giving Dallas the ball and eventually Dallas scored to win the game.

            Many Lions’ fans and players took it to social media to express their frustration with the call, with some calling the NFL fixed and others claiming the Cowboys paid the referees to give them the game. One account on Twitter, “CorruptNFL” tweeted all team’s current records on upcoming outcomes to the playoffs which dated back to July 14th, 2014. A lot of football in Colonie High believed this was authentic, with some stating they’d bet on the Cowboys since they were predicted to beat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. This account’s credit was lost after the Cowboys were defeated by the Green Bay Packers on January 11th.

            This game was not a blowout and evidently nowhere close to one. In the last five minutes of the game with the Cowboys down by five, Dallas quarterback Tony Romo threw a 50 yard pass to favored receiver Dez Bryant to put them on the one yard line in scoring position. Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy challenged the catch and the call was reversed. It looked as if Bryant caught the ball and the catch was complete but according to the referees the receiver needed to maintain possession while on the ground for the catch to be considered complete. This caused the Cowboys to turnover on downs and lose them the game. This call was considered even more controversial than the one the previous week against the Lions. Even Giants’ receiver Odell Beckham Jr. tweeted that the call was clearly wrong and it was a catch, these calls and rules by the NFL upset fans more than ever, and with three weeks before the Super Bowl, they may have to worry about losing viewers.

Are We Hitting Rock Bottom?

Courtney Yule

January 23, 2015

    

                My interview was scheduled at 11:15 on January 24^th, and after weaving through the hall ways to make it to my destination. I looked around the empty library to see if Mr. Bakus, Assistant Superintendent, had already arrived, but I only knew him through the emails we exchanged to arrange this interview. I scanned the room three times, before taking a seat. The library was vaguely empty for six period, and I quietly took a seat near the door.   A tall man walked through the door in a long black coat suited for winter, leather gloves, and a tie. His professional attire convinced me that if I needed to interview anyone about this controversial topic it was him. His former background of a history teacher intrigued me to contact him. After the movie, American Sniper, was released on January 16, 2015, strong feelings resonated across the country for the film and Chris Kyle. Therefore, I wanted to understand what a former teacher at Colonie High School saw in the film, and ultimately what he took away from the movie as a whole. Before, the interview commenced we formally greeted each other, and I started the interview immediately since I knew he took free time out his day to come see me.

                 CY: ‘After watching this film, what kind of images, people, and themes stood out to you?”

                TB: “I think the big theme for me was him as a person. Like, you don’t have to get ahead of things, but the controversy that goes on. I think kind of misses that this a personal story involved in a war, and what he brings back and forth to it that’s what I took from it”

CY: “Was that the major perspective you saw?            

TB: “I think so. You can look at it and some of the controversies that has come up, and say okay what is Americas role in Iraq, what is Americas role over sea, what are the responsibilities that type of thing. But I got to tell ya, I took more out of what was going on with one person, what was the impact on with him, and what was the impact on the family.”  

                CY: “Okay, you say family and how this was a huge part of the movie. Was this what you thought as a movie as a whole?”

                TB: “Do you mean before I saw it, or afterwards?”

                CY: “Afterwards”

                TB: “Yea, I did not see it as a, you know some of the big things around I’ve seen is whether it is a pro war movie and an antiwar movie. I did not see it that way. If you want to blame the war or the wars there are two to three presidents you can blame those wars on or two to three congress depending on how you look on it. I did not see as making a decision that he was going off to war. Someone else told him he was going off to war, and from that point on he had a job to do. His goal was to do the job the best he could, but it wasn’t his responsibility of doing what he was asked to do. Other people asked him to do that, so I looked at it as much more of a person’s struggle through this.”

CY: “Did you belief the ideas and beliefs of Chris Kyle, ex.(racism toward Middle Easterns), shock you, after watching this film, or could you see his point of view for being in that environment for so long.”

                TB: “I think one of the big differences … I agree with what you are saying from the stand point is he a product of his situation. If he was around someone who was Arab or came from Arab descent in his community or something like that… what I saw in the film, and I do not know anything more than that. I do not believe he would be that way, but in the setting of what he had. He definitely had concerns, but I think they were more about what he viewed as the bad guys in the country. You know it wasn’t so much about the race. You know the said things, but here’s the kind of thing I can’t get behind the controversy of this.  We sit down and watch a movie about the Vietnam War and they may use terms about the Vietnams that we may never use today, but we don’t get to upset about them. I go and sit down to watch a movie from WW2 they would use terms against Germans and other groups that we do not think anything about.  What I find interesting is the movie I saw beforehand was “Fury” with Brad Pitt, which was a World War 2 tank movie, bad, bad movie, alright. It had every gore cliché on the face of the earth. I was so disappointed. I haven’t seen a movie in like six months, and I went to go see this and I’m like it stinks. But in that movie, you know, it is all about the Germans and killing and all those different things. Because we are far enough removed from it we do not get concerned about it. I understand we are so far removed from clears sides that World War 2. You know I think that the intent of the movie was to kind of celebrate him so you are not going to have a balanced approach. You know, I knew that going in Clint Eastwood is the director.

 There is no way that that is going to go left.” *laughs*

                CY: “In what ways did you see Chris Kyle suffer through the film internally because of his job?”

                TB: “I think what he talks about, and he kind of comes out towards the middle and end to one of the psychiatrists and the V.A., I don’t know which one it was, and he talks about not so much what he has to do, but the people who he left behind like his buddies who were killed. He talks about that, but you can see some of things he had to wrestle related to women and children. They highlighted the balance. What is the responsibility to his job and mission verses what he believes morally should not happen and be done, but I think that what haunts him is the buddies and the people he served with. That’s what I took out of it.”

                CY: The media is saying this movie glorified war, and we should not this man, who killed so many individuals in his lifetime, any validation that what he did was right. What are your thoughts on that?

                TB: “Great question. Here’s what I would say to that. I did not leave the movie theater thinking that war was glorified. I left the movie theater thinking that individual soldiers are put into tough positions. Did they rise to the occasion. Average everyday people  who then become soldiers did they rise to that occasion, and I thought to myself more about the fact that I did not want to put more people like that in harm’s way for foolish reasons. You follow that. The meaning … makes sense?”

CY: Yea

                TB: “In other words if we are going to do this to somebody there better be a damn good reason why we are doing that.”

                CY: Yea

                CY: A lot of famous celebrities chimed in on this movie, after watching it. We have Michael Moore who wrote, “My uncle was killed by a sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. They will shoot you in the back. Snipers aren’t heroes”, and in addition, Seth Rogan also stated “American Sniper kind of reminds me of the movie that’s showing in the third act of Inglorious … I’m not going to say the last word.

                TB: “Inglorious Bastards”?*laughs*   That’s a great movie by the way.

                CY: Would you agree with those comments?

                TB: No I would not agree to those comments. I mean look I used Michael Moore films in my classes that I used to teach, but he is a little off target on this one. I think that even in the movie you can see Chris Kyle wrestle with the idea that he is a sniper, and the fact at some points they make it apparent that he goes down and serves with some of the Marines on the ground. And the reason for that is he thinks they are not trained well, and he can help them out. On the other hand, he has to wrestle with the idea that he is killing people from a greater distance. And he knows he has an easier job than some people, or less likely to be killed than some people.

So he wrestles with that, but I think that Michael Moore is a bit over the top on that one. And you know I am not a big fan of the American policy in Iraq, I’m not.  You know that is under Obama that is under Bush, so I am under equal opportunity on that. But once again the more you look into war and the impact, for me it comes down to the individual soldiers. And Seth Rogan! Ah … don’t listen to Seth Rogan. I understand what he is saying. “Inglorious Bastards” was a good movie, but it was pure fiction. So good war movie with Brad Pit opposed to “Fury”. That was a bad war movie with Brad Pit. What else do you got?”

                *slight pause*

                TB: Have you seen the movie?

                CY: “No I have not. I heard wonderful things about it, and I wanted to come into this unbiased”

                TB: “You got to see it, after you’re done!”

                CY:  “Yes! There has been another rumor going around that the film purposely came out, before the trail against Ray Routh, the man who killed Kyle and a fellow Marine Little Field, who went to go shooting.”

                TB: “I have not heard that rumor. In fact, I didn’t know exactly how he died. I knew he had died, but wasn’t until the final frame that I had realized he was killed by someone. I thought he had some troubles and actually committed suicide. So I was unaware of how he died. I think that is a little … a little on top of the rumor mill to be honest with you.” 

TB: “Not an easy movie to watch”

                CY: “I heard it just gets dead silent at certain parts. No one is talking”

                TB: “You know you watch and the lights come up and everyone is talking. I am telling you there was not a word in the place. There wasn’t a word in the place. My wife she thought the same thing. She thought the strangest thing when we were leaving. It wasn’t a perfect movie. It really wasn’t. There were … you know the thing is from a war stand point you right about the idea there is a sniper, so he is not on the ground so there isn’t a lot of action that way. But they do a good job about, you know when he comes back and he emits to his difficulties and how it affects him at home”

                CY: The War on Terror is a new innovation, and America has been lucky to have few battles on its own soil. With that said do you think this separation people who go into the movie theaters don’t actually understand the tolls and what going on, so they are more likely to perceive as this movie glorifying war than the actual experience itself?”                

TB: “I think you are right target there. I think the idea we view things as a big video game or movie, and people like Chris Kyle were there living that is a major separation, and I think it makes it easier for sometimes to commit people to these things and not know the real total it takes on them.”

                “Thank you very much” I said with sheer joy, after the interview concluded.  Before we parted, he told me that now I had to go see the movie and email him about it. After the responses he gave me, I will not hesitate to do so. 

Senior Celebrities

Aine Geraghty

1/20/15

Our time has arrived. The pivotal moment in our high school careers is upon us, and we are basking in the soon to come glory. No, I’m not talking about all our college applications being sent in, although that is quite cathartic. Nor am I talking about the fast approaching prom season that is sure to entail more Instagram photos of couples holding signs that read “Prom?”, covered in a massacre of glitter. What I am speaking of is the voting of senior celebrities. That finalists have been narrowed down, and without any final round of a beauty pageant type questioning for the nominees, we must vote based on personal bias or how funny their Twitter is. That’s mainly because the categories, for lack of a better word, are lame.

We have so many opportunities for funny, different, and original categories, yet we stick to the same 21 choices each year. We still keep categories such as “Best Car”, which translates into who is the most spoiled, and “#1 Raider Fan”, which I can’t recall the last time anyone in the senior class showed a great interest in any Colonie sport other than football, and that’s really just to socialize and trash talk other schools. Obviously with the ballots cast, it’s too late to change it now, but something for underclassmen to consider is adding things like “Most Likely to Walk the Red Carpet”, or “Best Movie Quoter”, or even bring back categories like “Class Ledged”.

For further insight on a senior’s view of the class celebrities, Steph Cook shared her thoughts. “I think senior celebrities is a good idea because it’s a fun way to connect the senior class before graduation. It also adds some excitement to senior year.” She also offered up what addition she would make to the possible new categories, which was “Most Likely to be Famous”. Finally, she gave her opinion on the picture the celebrities take after they win. While most just stand and smile, trying their best to look nice, Cook said she thought they should try and “play it up” more for their portraits, saying that when she looked at her brother’s old yearbook celebrities “They had different poses and props, which made it more fun and memorable.”

While the celebrities may be a popularity contest with outdated categories, I really don’t believe there is any point in trying to spoil the harmless fun. In reality, after graduation these awards will mean absolutely nothing, so it’s better that the winners enjoy their five minutes of fame now, while it lasts. And if you end up with celebrity status and being remembered is what you desire most in the world, then make an effort to be original with your photo. Perhaps a little Judd Nelson fist pump into the air. 

Absolutely Coolest Interview

Aine Geraghty

01/22/15

           

 Sarah Ruane was the absolute coolest lady I have ever had the pleasure to speak to. An interview was arranged for us this past Tuesday, and we met in the school library for a chat on her career as a journalist. Previous to our conversation, I had a preset characterization of those in the field in journalism field; they were very serious and centered every conversation around what was the biggest story in the news at the current time. But Sarah delivered me a happy surprise. While being very straightforward and factual in her answers to my inquiries, she gave off the witty vibe that is so very often seen in her brother, Colonie’s own Kevin Ruane. Her aura matched that of one of your mom’s cool friends, the one that would babysit you, buy you a milkshake and introduce you to My So Called Life. Completely in awe of her already, I knew our interview would be beyond enjoyable.

           Sarah grew up in Voorheesville, New York and attended high school there as well. After graduating, she went on to get a four year degree in broadcast journalism at Ithaca College. She explained that declaring her major specifically broadcast journalism only meant that in her senior year she mainly did TV and production, but still took print journalism classes as well. Surprisingly though, she shared that she never really participated in any writing or reporting activities outside of her normal classes. She did, however, get an internship in her junior year at News Channel 13. “It was a lot of watching,” she explained, “Watching them put the pieces together, and then I sat on the set while they were anchoring. It was mostly observation based.”

Quite like myself, Sarah found her love for writing originally in the fact that she had no interest in math or science. “I didn’t have an interest in them like I did in English, in reading and writing. And then I don't really know where the news came from. I always just liked it. I don’t know, that probably made me a nerd when I was little.” She just seemed to find interest in the fact that the writing was creative without being fictional. It doesn’t really come as a surprise that Sarah found herself writing though, seeing as her brother is now an English teacher and her parents were always big readers who encouraged their kids to do the same. “We both sort of just found our way there,” was her explanation for how she and her brother’s occupations came to be. But with a background of supportive English professors in her own school years, Sarah always had writing and reading laced into her life one way or another.

          After gathering as to how she came to be where she is today, I had to know where exactly this place was. Sarah’s normal work day as the Assignment Desk Supervisor and Internship Coordinator involves an arrival at seven, and a morning meeting at 9:15. The two hours in between gives her the chance to organize and plan for the rest of the day’s possible events and stories. After the morning meeting, which ends roughly around 10:30, Sarah gets on a conference call with all the other assignment editors from across the state. “We kind of just let each other know if there is a cool statewide story,” she explained. The idea of different stations actually helping each other out, for the common goal of getting the news out, was refreshing. It’s nice to know it’s not all about the ratings. The rest of her day is mainly about keeping watch on the police scanners for stories, and making sure the stories that are already out there are being taken care of. Lastly, there is a viewing of the other stations broadcasts. “It’s good for the producers to see exactly how the other stations are, we call it stacking their shows, which basically just means what order they're putting things in.” And before her departure home, Sarah tries to take a look ahead at the next day’s possible stories, so she isn't “walking in cold every day.” She doesn’t usually end up leaving work until five though, so she can stay for the reporter deadline in case they need help on a piece. The job does get hectic a lot she confessed, but then went on to say that “that’s just the nature of the entire business.” The police scanners she sits in front of never stop going off with a variety of reports and the phones are constantly ringing, which does bring

 some stress to the job. But despite the craziness of the job, Sarah never wishes she had a different career. She explained that the days that are the craziest “are the days that we all hope for.” And while she doesn't mean her and her colleagues wish for horrible events to occur in a Lemony Snicket type manner, the slow days are the ones that the reporters so desperately want a story for.

Golden Arches vs. Twin Towers

Caroline Halburian

January 14, 2015

    Red and yellow signs with the trademark golden arches resembling the McDonalds fast food chains show on television during the NFL playoffs and Golden Globes in a commercial. But these signs didn’t display the normal “I’m Lovin’ It” slogan, the signs featured messages of support after devastating events.

    Highlighting the loving in the “I’m Lovin’ It” slogan and associating it with a positive motion, “We Remember 911” and Boston Strong” are a few of the messages that McDonalds has displayed. Other messages thanked veterans, or were more personal and wished individuals in the community a happy birthday.

These messages provoked strong reactions, with some saying they were moved by it and others saying it's tacky for a company to use tragic events to burnish its image. Being the world's biggest hamburger chain and fast food provider people saw this as mediocre.

Devon Edwards an eighteen year-old who has worked at McDonalds before, “knows the intention was to portray McDonalds as a community loving restaurant, but for those who have lost loved ones in tragedies such as 911 and the Boston Massacre, these people will take this motion from the fast food chain supplying unhealthy food negatively.”

Other companies have faced even sharper backlash for trying to incorporate national tragedies into their marketing. In 2013, for instance, AT&T was criticized for an ad that featured New York's recovery after the September 11th attacks while showing off its new smartphones. AT&T was trying to sell their new merchandise by capturing their viewers’ attention with this

                    horrible event.

    McDonald franchises delivered messages about more than Happy Meals and the latest toy you’ll receive inside of each box. The company is working to strengthen their ties in communities and redeem themselves from their reputation as the food chain that distributes unhealthy food.

                       

Senioritis Profile

Alexandra Summa                                                                                                                                          

01/20/2015

                She can barely move. For the fourth day in a row, she drags herself out of bed after missing the first two alarms. Her eyes are heavy and her motivation is at an all-time low. She leaves the house half asleep, wearing the same outfit she fell asleep in. Although she doesn’t yet realize it, her underclassmen friends noticed days ago. She has a classic case of Senioritis.

            “I don’t even want to wake up or get dressed anymore,” senior Missy Vadney said. “I remember seeing other seniors deal with this, and I never understood where it came from. Now that I’m in their position, I completely understand.”

            Symptoms include a heavy dose of laziness and trouble focusing. All from four years of repeating the same routine. Senior Matt Wordworths case of senioritis came with an excessive desire to wear sweatpants every day and a low motivation for school work. He believes his senioritis is progressively going to get worse throughout the school year.

            Katie agrees, feeling senioritis only gets worse. While she attempts to push herself to be productive, a strong sense of low-motivation kicks in, leaving her case of senioritis worse than ever. “I also knew it was bad when work for my easy classes, started feeling difficult.”

            While the urges are strong, senior Ali Catalfamo fights to keep her focus. She understands that colleges are still carefully monitoring grades and says it is important to stay motivated.

 “I think it is important to stay focused because students still have to pass their classes,” Catalfamo said. “Colleges can easily take away admission if they see a student failing classes because those are not the grades they saw when the students applied.”

            To Missy, staying focused is a daily battle and she is ready for the only known cure to senioritis: graduation. “Every day for four years, it’s been the same thing and I think everyone’s ready to move on,” she said. The only thing that can fix senioritis is graduation, and as the day becomes closer, it becomes harder to focus.”

Resolve to Resolve

Michelle Luo

January 9, 2015

         The holidays are coming to an end as December passes, and a new year is beginning. A tradition that has been common for decades for the New Years is the New Year’s resolution. This is when people plan a goal for themselves to accomplish for the upcoming year. Many people tend to have plans for dieting, studying, or earning money. The New Year’s resolution sets a goal for people to be motivated and ambitious for the events that will come the following year. But in Colonie Central High School, some students think differently about the idea of having a new year’s resolution.  

                 

         Some students in Colonie Central High School (CCHS) were asked if they had a New Year’s resolution, and most of them answered, “No.” When they were asked why, multiple reasons were given. “I don’t like the idea of it. I think it’s kind of pointless. I mean it’s not bad, but I just don’t come up with a New Year’s resolution,” said Megan Justice, a CCHS student. “I think it’s so dumb. You don’t need a holiday to make you determined to do something. If you really are motivated, the goal can be set anytime in the year,” stated Anjelique Washington, a CCHS student. Some students, like Acacia Morris a student in CCHS, think that it is more important to see what they encounter the next year before coming up with a resolution for the future. “This is why I don’t like to have a New Year’s resolution,” she stated.

                       

           Although some students don’t like the New Year’s resolution, other students have mutual feelings toward it. Some students might come up with one, but then never fulfill it. Neha Meshal, another CCHS student said, “My resolution was to give up pizza, but then I broke it already. I think if you believe the New Year’s resolution works, then, do it. If you don’t believe in it, then, don’t do it.” It is not something they must do, or something that must be set. Rather, it is something to improve or help the people through the New Year. “It is like a time to reflect on what you did and what you want to do. For me, it is not really forming a resolution, but more like acknowledging a problem. I want to do a lot of stuff, but I never get to it. I just want to be a better person and change my habits for the next year and forever. So, it’s not really setting a goal,” said Oneida Shushe, a CCHS student. Other students in CCHS like Courtney Yule says, “I just roll with it, you know, go with the flow. But I don’t come up with a resolution. I don’t even think people do it anymore.”

                

            The students of CCHS are in a new generation, which have a different perspective on the idea of New Year’s resolution. They think that goal setting and changing themselves for the better throughout the year, is better than a onetime thing to set at the end of the year. Even though most students think this way, there are still some people who like to stick to the holiday spirits of creating a New Year’s resolution. Allegra Padula, a CCHS high school senior, stated, “What, yes it is important to have one! It is always good and relevant to have goals and improve yourself.” Many students have different opinions on it now. It can be important to some people or not to others.

                   

Senioritis Triggered

Stephanie Cook

            Every year, the graduating class comes to a point where they are sick of being in high school. This idea is associated with the word: senioritis. Once college acceptance letters and financial aid packages are received, many students don’t see the reason to keep trying academically. In Colonie High School, the class of 2015 differs on when they believe senioritis hits and its effects.

Katelyn O’Keefe, a member of the senior class, believes that senioritis is triggered when students begin receiving acceptance letters from colleges. Once kids start planning out there future, “What’s the point?” O’Keefe states. She is a firm believer in senioritis and claims that she has had the disease for months now. O’Keefe defines senioritis as, “The feeling of not wanting to be in school or do work because you’re going to college.” Senioritis makes students lazy and less likely to maintain their high marks from previous years. I asked O’Keefe if she had any words of advice for students struggling to make it through senior year, and she said, “Just keep working hard because you need to pass high school first.”

Another senior, Aine Geraghty, has been struggling to get through her case of senioritis as well. “Ugh I’ve had senioritis since mid-junior year,” Geraghty states with a scowl. Senioritis has become a loss of motivation and a desire to sleep 24/7. Geraghty feels that, “Getting a zero for not doing homework becomes less painful than actually doing the assignment.” She believes that sending out applications begins the tragic epidemic, and once a student starts receiving acceptance letters it all goes downhill.  It feels like “hitting a wall,” according to Geraghty, and then students just get overwhelmed by the full force of senioritis. Geraghty’s words or advice to struggling seniors are “to create a schedule laced with things that you enjoy”. For example, she comes home and has a snack because she enjoys food, then does an assignment. Then she chooses to watch a movie and get more work done. The key is a healthy balance.

              As seniors continue to struggle with their lack of excitement for high school, it is important to keep in mind the end goal. The class of 2015 is almost at their 100 day countdown to the last day of school, and then the real world begins. Students must focus on the present in order to achieve future goals, and most of all; enjoy senior year. It only happens once.

   

Learning From Tragedy

Amber Holt

Leelah Alcorn, a 17-year old transgender girl committed suicide by throwing herself in front of incoming traffic shortly after posting a suicide note online. A tractor-trailer hit Leelah on Interstate 71 about 2:15 a.m. on December 28, about four miles from her house in Kings Mills, Ohio. Her suicide note states that she killed herself because of the treatment she received after coming out as transgender.

    She begins her suicide note with, "Please don’t be sad, it’s for the better. The life I would’ve lived isn’t worth living in… because I’m transgender. I could go into detail explaining why I feel that way, but this note is probably going to be lengthy enough as it is. To put it simply, I feel like a girl trapped in a boy’s body, and I’ve felt that way ever since I was 4." Leelah came out to her mother as transgender at the age of 14. Her mother reacted negatively towards her feelings, claiming it was a phase and that she'll never be a girl.

Leelah explained her conservative Christian home that didn't accept her as anything but a straight Christian boy. At the age of 16, her parents Doug and Carla Alcorn denied their consent for her to begin the transitioning progress. She then came out as gay to her high school in a way to ease herself into coming out as transgender. Most of her classmates knew of her as a boy before her suicide, only finding out after her death.

    While Leelah received positivity from her friends in school, her parents were only angered by her actions. Her parents isolated their daughter, she was cut off from social media and any contact with her friends. Leelah posted on Reddit months before her suicide, that her parents forced her into conversion therapy, bullied her, told her she was going to hell, and isolated her from her friends. A portion of Leelah's last words stated, "This was probably the part of my life when I was the most depressed, and I’m surprised I didn’t kill myself. I was completely alone for 5 months. No friends, no support, no love. Just my parent’s disappointment and the cruelty of loneliness."

    At the end of the school year, her punishment was lifted, but Leelah claimed that her friends were initially excited to see her, but they didn't really care about her. "After a summer of having almost no friends plus the weight of having to think about college, save money for moving out, keep my grades up, go to church each week and feel like s*** because everyone there is against everything I live for, I have decided I’ve had enough."

Leelah Alcorn finishes her suicide note by stating she wants her possessions to be sold, the money earned and the money in her bank account would be donated to Trans civil rights movements and support groups.

    The last words Leelah ever wrote are, "The only way I will rest in peace is if one day transgender people aren’t treated the way I was, they’re treated like humans, with valid feelings and human rights. Gender needs to be taught about in schools, the earlier the better. My death needs to mean something. My death needs to be counted in the number of transgender people who commit suicide this year. I want someone to look at that number and say “that’s f***** up” and fix it. Fix society. Please." She signed her name as (Leelah) Josh Alcorn, with the name Josh crossed out.

    After Leelah's suicide, her parents still refuse to acknowledge her real gender. Her parents continue to use her former name and male pronouns. "He was an amazing musician and artist," her mother said. "He was an amazing boy." Carla and Doug also had her blog removed from Tumblr, the website where she posted her suicide note and a few sorry notes to those she knew. Internet users uploaded a saved archive of her blog without their permission which is here- https://web.archive.org/web/20150102043958/http://lazerprincess.tumblr.com/. There is controversy over whether or not her parents deserve the hate they received over social media.

Leelah Alcorn's funeral was postponed for its original date due to the threats her parents received, and a private funeral was held. Meanwhile a candle vigil was held in front of Kings High School, where she attended. Hundreds gathered at the vigil, with their candles lit. There was music, poetry, mourning, and discussions on what they could do for the transgender community. More than a dozen other vigils were held in and out of the U.S.

    Leelah's suicide brought more awareness to the poisonous relationship between transgenders and coversion therapy. A petition was posted to whitehouse.gov to ban conversion therapy in the United States. This petition is titled "Leelah's Law" and stated that "Therapists that engage in the attempt to brainwash or reverse any child's gender identity or sexual orientation are seriously unethical and legislation is needed to end such practices that are resulting in LGBTQ+ deaths. We respectfully seek your help to ban the practice known as 'conversion therapy' and name the bill in honor of Leelah Alcorn." So far the petition received more than 35,000 signatures, and an endless amount of support.

    Leelah's death was tragic, and some debated over whether a suicide such as her's should be given so much attention. Others point out that Leelah's last words were a plea for change, and that the issues that the transgender community faces has to be brought to attention. However, either side makes it clear that Leelah Alcorn will not be forgotten any time soon.