When did a kid growing up in the suburbs, become so poignant that shooting up a school would be the answer to their loneliness, depression, awkwardness, and maybe in the majority’s eyes, the lack of popularity? This writer truly believes that everybody in some form or fashion has experienced being an outsider or secluded in their own self-loathing. I remember being a teenager around the time that Kurt Cobain left us and back then, kids were dealing with sadness because that’s what happens when you get to high school, right? If you’re a adolescent guy or girl and you’re into the opposite sex but maybe they’re not into you, one's self esteem will be affected. If you don’t have as many friends as the goddamn quarterback of the school, you believe that something is seriously wrong with you. You know what, bite the bullet (figuratively speaking) and try and deal with your own problem. The key word is “own.” Make a playlist on your ipod with as many Smiths songs or I guess these days as many Dashboard Confessional or Avril Lavenge songs as possible and remember tomorrow is another day.
Here is a pretty good idea on what not to do. Don’t obtain a firearm and begin taking your anger out on your schoolmates. Are you trying to be famous? Here’s the newsflash, I will take the Pepsi challenge that most people forgot the name of the lifeless coward who shot up Virginia Tech last year. Most people remember the Columbine shooters because it was the first one of its kind. Those two kids ushered in attacks on schools followed by the most offensive act of all by not owning up to their despicable actions. They didn’t pay for their crimes, they took the easy road by taking themselves off the planet. There have been numerous copycat incidents since Columbine and for what? Teenage vulnerability? Being an outcast? To quote a line from the 1990 landmark film about troubled teens and a high school without a clue on how to assist in their many dilemmas, Pump Up The Volume starring Christian Slater, “So be it.” One may have dated himself with that reference but the meaning is timeless. It’s absolutely horrific enough that as a country we have to deal with disgruntled people from other opposing countries that do not agree by any means with the freedom that our nation possesses, much less depressed teenagers or even young adults in the their first or second year of college trying to eliminate part of the English department at their distinguished schools with automatic weapons. How on Earth do children get their hands on guns, anyway. Having gone to the shooting range twice in one's life and granted it was a hell of an experience but never has the thought of purchasing handgun ever become a reality.
The ideas of right or wrong have to come in to play in the sense of not only will a prison sentence and same sex rape be imminent but it’s just completely tragic to murder innocent kids and teachers, point blank. It’s one thing if these troubled and confused adolescents believe that their lives are in such distress now, wait until the hit the multi-challenged golden age that is the 20s or even the early life crisis that is commonly known as the 30s. This life is a roller coaster of downfalls and triumphs. Its never simplistic but always life altering. Stop blaming your parents for being so out of touch with you and your aggressive nature as a teen and lack of confidence. This is a rather difficult time for parents as well. Don’t be fearful of the ridicule that you believe may come if you open up about your gloomy and abnormal thoughts because you’ve just discovered you hated yourself and you’re only 16 or 17 years old. Believe or not, it's almost normal to be insecure or somewhat awkward. being a teenager is all about discovering who you may be for the duartion of your life. The idea is to keep moving forward. That is the only option we all have in this life.
