Caleb Thompson And Suicide Essay

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, "Suicide is the second leading cause of death for adolescents 15 to 19 years old." (AAP) Tragically, my best friend, Caleb Thompson, was one of those statistics. Growing up, he seemed to be well-adjusted and even happy. His depression seemed to strike during his junior year of high school because he was being bullied. Caleb tried to get away from the bullies by switching high schools; however, the bullying continued at his new high school. As his friend, I tried to tell him that life would get better, that he only had about a year left of high school. I tried to get him to see what a valuable person he was. Even though I was there for him, the bullying from others failed to stop. On May 3rd, 2011Caleb seemed to break down as he shared how much pressure he was under from his parents, how he felt like a failure after several teachers lectured him about his work not being done, and how so many students teased hi,. …show more content…
Obviously, this wasn't enough because later that night he went home and ended his life. If he had been thinking rationally, he probably wouldn't have taken his own life. Having low self-esteem can be more than just talking negatively about oneself; it can lead to horrible consequences. Caleb was less than two years away from college. There are many high school and college age students who share similar experiences with Caleb as a result of suffering from low self-esteem. If Caleb had positive self-esteem, he would most likely still be with us today. In order for college age students to feel successful, possessing a healthy self-esteem is essential; therefore, it is important for one to possess the skills to deal with pressure, feelings of failure, and irrational