Alief Elsik High School - Ramblings Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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 The suicide rate among teenage Americans has tripled in the last twenty years. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among our nations's youth. The five to ten thousand teenage deaths annually signal a problem of epi- demic proportions. These were just a few of the terrifying statements printed by the papers. The Houston Post published true-life accounts of sui- cidal teens throughout the year. This story was one of the more powerful ones. Beth (not her real name) looks like a modern day Cinderella, with long blond hair, expressive eyes, and a slim 14 year old figure. But today, she sounds like a very old woman. Beth is a resident of West Oaks Hospital. She takes a seat in the hospital's conference room and tells her story in hopes that somebody somewhere might learn something about teenage suicide. She begins timidly. When she was little, she says, her father used to drink, and beat up her mother. It always went on, before I was even born. Along with Beth and her parents lived her mother's six brothers and sisters. My mom wasn't really available for me. I felt forgotten about. When Beth was six, her parents separated, and she and her mother wound up in a shelter for battered women. About a month after the split, her mother moved in with a new boyfriend. I liked him, Beth says, but I resented him for taking my dad's place. Within the year, Beth's mom was married and pregnant. She used to call me her best friend, Beth re- members. My mom was a weak person. I took the attitude that I had to be strong. Beth pauses to think. That's probably when my problems started. I was acting so Photo by S. Lacl strong when things we really bothering me. When Beth was eigi her stepfather assault her sexually. That was t beginning of an incestuo relationship that lasted 1 three miserable yea Beth's straight A grac became a thing of the pa I had a lot of anger - a i of stuff I was feeling bu wasn't saying. One day Beth took electric knife from t kitchen and cut herself - the leg. I couldn't s verbally how hurt I fell thought maybe a physh hurt would be better th an emotional one. Anc remember thinking tha wanted to be taken care o Nobody seemed to noti the child's bleeding leg The next day Beth curs at her teacher, who sent b to the principal. Tha when Beth broke do and told the schc administrator about b problems at home. T principal called the chi welfare authorities, a: her life with her moth stepfather and stepbrotb came to an end. For me than a year, Beth lived in assortment of institutioi staffed by a variety therapists who tried 154 Rambler

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or Maryann Protomarlir studies diligently at her desk to make good grades. Photo by R. Law Goldwater, Secretary of Defense Casper Wein- berger, and the Honorable Sandra Day O'Connor, and other senators and rep- resentatives, we obtained many different viewpoints on different subjects, but all were very sincere and diligent people. Itwasanhonortobeable to share a time with each of these persons, discussing issues that directly affect the people of America. After visiting the Supreme Court, the Pentagon, the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Smithsonian Institution, I feel America has so many things to be proud of. It made me remember that we are One nation, under God, indivisible, with liber- ty and justice for all. Junior Tracie Rutherford stands out- side the Pentagon building in Wash- ington, D.C. She was selected as the winnerof Bill Archer's Intern Program. Photo by T. Rutherford Last fall. Junior Tracie Rutherford won an essay contest for a contest as part of Congressman Bill Archer's Intern Program. One student from each high school in Congress- man Archer's district was selected on the basis of an essay on what a trip to Washington, D.C. would mean to them. A panel of teachers chose four win- ners from the contestants' essays. Tracie left Houston Saturday, March 24, and returned from Washing- ton a week later. By Tracie Rutherford Being a part of the Bill Archer Intern Program was about the most exciting and fulfilling activity that I have every been involved in. Every aspect of the trip was dedicated to learning more about our nation's gov- ernment, its functions and the people involed in it. Due to the lack of knowledge about our government, many people are apt to criticize and ridicule politics, but the one right that is more often taken for granted in this country is freedom. With- out the freedom we as citizens of the U.S. can obtain, we would lose our purpose as a nation. This was the main point that many of the legislators and politicians emphasized. I believe that our gov- ernment is dedicated to the betterment of the citizens' lives,even though this is not always an easy task. By meeting such people as Mr. Barry ony Palguta has a great interest in Washington Proves id culture. Photo by R. Law Rewarding, Fun, Worthwhile

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help her talk about the incest. All I would do is say yes or no, she says. Beth felt the three years of sexual abuse were her fault. Her stepfather had denied everything. Her mother accused her of lying. My mother be- lieved him over me. And I felt betrayed. I couldn't ever put into words how Suicide is the third leading cause of death among our nation's youth. much that hurt my feelings. So she expressed herself in other ways. On different occasions she drank fingernail polish remover. She slashed her wrists, and once she broke pencil lead into the wound. I couldn't say how hurt I treated at the Belle Park Hospital for personal as well as drug Photo by R. Law felt so (the suicide at- tempts) were my way to show it. Once Beth and a friend ( I don't know why I call her a friend ) ate glass together. At the time I thought I would be better off dead. Beth was shifted from child welfare facilities to hospitals and psychiatric units back to child welfare. When she was twelve, almost thirteen, she began experimenting with drugs. She started dating, and she engaged in sexual re- lationships, just to get back at Mom. She injected fingernail polish into her veins, in addition to drink- ing the stuff. That, finally, was the act that landed her in West Oaks twenty months ago. It took me a long time to open up once I got here, Beth says. But eventually I did. For the first time in my life I expressed anger. Beth hasn't forgotten her past, and occasionally she still has problems coping. But now, I can talk about it. I used to feel alone and not cared about, but there are people now to listen. Therapy has helped me tremendously. Tears well up in Beth's eyes, then she laughsself-consciously. It makes me sad to think how I used to be. When asked, Beth offers some advise to parents with troubled kids. Listen to them instead of yelling at them; try to find out what the problem is. Show them you care. If all else fails, get psychiatric help. Any advice to depressed teens? Open up, and share your feelings with others. Talk - somebody else will understand. You know, I used to pretend I was too big to cry, now I cry all the time. Now when I'm upset, everybody knows it. Stress, family problems, and insecure feelings about oneself have always been related to suicide. Several Elsik students have been treated; many for attempted suicide. The recently built Belle Park Hospital has had positive results as a housing and theraputic center. Senior stress has also been a major issue. One senior related her feelings; The thing is, as quickly as it comes across my mind, (suicide), I realize it is really a stupid thing - it's like a cop out. I know that my problems I'm dealing with, whether they arise from school or home, may not seem bad to others, but for me they are traumatic. This has probably been my highest pressure year. It's the year you want to make your mark on the school, so people will remember you. But sometimes suicide looks like the only way out: away from the nagging parents, teachers, and the whole world in general. As bad as things seem now, if this is the worst my life ever gets. I'll be a lucky person. If lean kick my way through this, I can do anything. By Misty Bogle, Editor-in-Chief Rambler 155