Tag: Harper Gordon

Organizations help raise awareness during National Suicide Prevention Month

by Harper Gordon and Jilliann Denbo

September is designated as National Suicide Prevention Month to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and share life-saving mental health resources. Statistics from the CDC show that over 49,000 people die by suicide annually in the United States. Suicidal thoughts appear more often than most think; we all need to look out for and help others no matter what. Luckily, many help lines and organizations are available whenever we need them.

¨Organizations like SAMHSA and NAMI use September to teach warning signs, promote evidence-based treatment, and remind people that support is available 24/7,¨ stated the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Mental health is something that is treated as such a taboo subject, but it shouldn’t be. It’s something people struggle with every day, and it should be normalized to talk about it.

“Suicide is still too often met with silence, stigma, or shame. At NAMI, we believe that silence should never be the response to someone’s pain. That’s why we’re working tirelessly to change that. This September, you can be the difference,” stated the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Sources for help can remain completely anonymous, meaning the people helping will not need to know names unless the caller is in complete danger.

¨The purpose of 988 is to provide a free, confidential, 24/7 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress, emotional crisis, or substance use issues,¨ stated SAMHSA.

We must never be afraid to ask for or get help when we need it most. Always look out for people struggling; they’re most likely a lot closer than we think. 

My name is Jilliann Denbo, and I used to struggle with many thoughts of suicide. I never felt like I belonged anywhere and that every single person was against me; even my parents.

I never understood what reaching out for help would mean; I always thought I was weak or not worthy of life if I actually asked for help. When my mental health started to get noticeably bad, my parents asked if I was okay. I denied it until I couldn’t anymore, which made almost everything much worse. But when I finally accepted help, the weight lifted off my chest; I could talk to people who could help me get back on the right path. With the help I received, I could breathe again. I will forever be grateful for the people who were right by my side to make sure everything was okay.

While talking to someone may seem awful, it truly is the right thing to do, no matter what it is. There is always someone to reach out to.

My name is Harper Gordon. I used to struggle heavily with suicidal ideation. I thought I had no belonging anywhere, and I constantly felt alone. In eighth grade, my best friend Dorothy unexpectedly passed away. 

After that, I thought there was no getting better; I lost my person, and I  constantly felt disconnected from everything. I always tried to act okay and act like I wasn’t struggling. I didn’t want anyone to worry about me; I always felt like everyone else had bigger problems. My family and friends eventually started noticing how much I was struggling. They all tried to help, but I pushed them away because I thought I’d be better without their help.

I wasn’t ready to admit I needed help; I didn’t want to admit it. But in the end, when I realized we can’t get better without help. When I needed them, they were all still there.

Never be scared to reach out and ask for help; someone’s always there.

¨If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available 24/7. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the United States and Canada,¨ stated News Center.

Art by Cella Hutton.
by jhshyphen

Seniors face their hopes, challenges in final year of high school

by Ayianna Maddox, Harper Gordon, and Jada Belser

Senior year has officially started for the graduating Class of 2027. High school seniors are reaching their last adolescent milestone and preparing for adult life. Their emails, messages, and mailboxes are constantly filled with information about college, financial aid, and so much more. 

While all of this is a good thing, the downside is the constant reminder that their childhood is concluding, and the trepidation of what lies ahead.

“My biggest fear is ‘what’s next?’ Just knowing the next step is being on my own and leaving everything and everyone I’ve ever known scares me a lot,” senior Harper Hylton said.

Senior Jenna Watts finds there are exciting moments to look forward to. 

“I’m excited. I’m so ready for all the senior events to start, and it’s nice to know I’m almost done. Graduation is the goal, and I’m almost there!” Watts said.

Senior Alasia Sims expressed how the end of her high school career and the start of her adult life caused mixed feelings. 

“I’m happy to be done with school and everything, then I’m scared because I’m going to have to actually go and do adult things,” Sims stated.

Senior year is commonly associated with balancing life inside of school and outside of school, such as working, volunteering, college, and career searching. As a young adult, all of these activities can impact students’ viewpoints of what awaits them, especially when it’s expected that the student has it all “figured out.”

Senior Sean Dyer takes his BC Calculus test. Photo by Logan Vidt.

“I’m nervous about adulthood. There’s more responsibilities, but that also comes with more freedom. I’m most nervous about money management,” senior Sean Dyer said.

At the end of the day, after four long years of high school, seniors are still kids growing into their adult shoes.

“I feel like I’ve slowly been entering into adulthood the entire of high school,” senior Enzo Magallanez said. 

The Class of 2027 has a long, yet short, year ahead of them, but between college, financial, and career responsibilities, they are all kids enjoying their last year of freedom.

Senior Enzo Magallanez takes his BC Calculus test. The desire to do well in classes is just one of the challenges seniors face in their final year at JHS. Photo by Logan Vidt
by jhshyphen

Column: We must be the change to save our environment

by Harper Gordon

We are actively destroying our planet and we need to stop. 

As someone who wants to go into marine biology, climate change with animals is a very important topic to me and should be to you, too. Thinking about it now it doesn´t seem to matter but this is the plant we are inheriting. Over 100 million ocean animals die in a year. On average that’s 227,777 per day.

Graphic by Harper Gordon.

How does climate change affect ocean animals? Specifically whales and turtles? 

Climate change affects ocean animals through rising ocean temperatures, leading to habitat loss and migration; ocean acidification, which impairs shell and skeleton formation; and deoxygenation, creating “dead zones.” These changes disrupt food webs, alter migration patterns, and increase stress on many species, with some, like coral reefs and ice dependent animals, facing an especially high risk of extinction.

Whale Sharks

Climate change affects whale sharks by altering their food sources and forcing them into dangerous waters, increasing their risk of ship strikes.

Whale sharks are filter feeders whose diet primarily consists of plankton, krill, and fish eggs. They also eat small fish and squid. Despite their massive size, they consume these small food sources by swimming with their mouths open, filtering large quantities of seawater to strain out their prey.

Sea Turtles

Climate change affects sea turtles by causing more females to hatch due to warmer sand temperatures, leading to skewed sex ratios that threaten future reproduction. It also disrupts their food sources, alters migratory patterns, and endangers nesting habitats through rising sea levels and increased storm intensity. These combined impacts pose a severe threat to their long-term survival.

A sea turtle’s diet varies by species, with some being carnivores (like Loggerheads eating crabs and conchs), herbivores (like adult Green sea turtles eating seagrass and algae), or omnivores (like Hawksbills eating sponges or Olive Ridleys eating a mix of plants and animals). Other species, such as Leatherbacks, are specialists that primarily eat jellyfish and sea squirts.

As a person going into marine biology this is a big issue to me. We live our normal everyday lives acting like our earth isn’t crumbling and it is not acceptable. As an adult I plan to attend UCLA. So I can be the change I wish to see. 

We can and should all work together and be the change.

by jhshyphen