Cherry Hill Kids Reach Out

Cherry Hill Project Kids & Project Yellow Ribbon Reach Out To Almost 3,500 High School Students

On Feb. 20 and 21, Cherry Hill Project Kids, sponsor of Cherry Hill’s Project Yellow Ribbon presented eight assemblies at both high schools to almost 3,500 students.

Project Yellow Ribbon was begun last year by CH Project Kids thanks to the dedication and commitment of Rachel Sherman, a 2001 graduate of C. H. High School East. Because of her effort, an East Yellow Ribbon Club is in its second year at East.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death to teenagers in the United States and for every tragic successful suicide there are at least 300 other failed ones. The topic of suicide can no longer be swept under the rug or hidden in the closet. Contrary to popular belief, you do not give someone a suicidal idea by talking about it – instead many times by talking about suicide you open the doors to communication with the young person who might be contemplating it.

The assemblies this year were deliberately kept optimistic and hopeful in order to make kids realize that ‘suicide is never an option.’

Sara Sherman, a junior at East, along with Jessica Young, a sophomore at East, were definitely the mainstays of the assemblies as both of these future leaders spoke from the heart about how possible suicide and actual suicide of people close to them had affected their lives.

For Sara is was the possible suicide of her sister that made her realize how suicide can be become part of your life without you even realizing it. Said Sara, "I had no idea what had caused such a pain in my sister...and she went on to share that she "felt guilty, scared, angry and most of all, helpless."

Jessica Young told the student audience about her ‘best friend’ who all of a sudden was gone from her life forever. "He gave no indication that he was suffering...He made everyone feel like he was their best friend...Imagine what a mask he had to wear, to hide all the pain inside.’

They both sent the same message to their fellow students in Cherry Hill…. "take better care of yourselves and become better friends to each other." Young told the 3,500 students that "all your friends may not be as carefree as they seem." Sherman said she had learned that depression is a life-long illness….and (in speaking of others)...we can only love them and try to reach out and help them.

West Principal George Munyan, shared with his students that for one brief moment when he was 14, he realized how easy it would be to end it all, while sitting at a window on the top floor of is apartment during trying family times. He also told them that never again since that time had he thought of suicide.

Kathy Haughwout, founder of CH Project Kids reached out to the students as a mother of 4 grown sons, and reminded them that "all our lives are tied together...what happens to you, happens to me...and you are all important. She asked them to "reach out to others when they are in pain, or to let others in to help them when they see their pain…"

Randy Larcinese, Nurse Manager at Kennedy Behavior Health Services and a Cherry Hill parent closed the assembly with helpful and hopeful suggestions for the kids and warned them now alcohol and drugs can just exacerbate the problems further, especially Ecstasy, which many kids are trying and that it will change your mind forever, hindering further treatment with depression in the future. Her soft-spoken approach, along with the openness of Jessica and Sara, helped students to realize the seriousness of the problem, with the results that several students from West are now going to start their own Yellow Ribbon club.

Cherry Hill Project Kids supports the established C. H. East’ Yellow Ribbon Club and the newly organized C. H. West Yellow Ribbon Club by presenting assemblies at both schools concerning depression and Suicide Prevention. During February, 2002 we held eight assemblies in two days for all students at both East & West.

Content provided by the Cherry Hill Connection.

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Author: Cherry Hill Connection