A Texas school district has reversed its decision to deny a grieving family a yearbook memorial page for their daughter, who killed herself last week.
Hannah Rose Hollis, a 17-year-old senior at Pearland High School, had recently celebrated her acceptance into Texas A&M University, where she would follow in her older sisters’ footsteps in the fall. The celebration turned to heartbreak for her family and friends on March 19, when Hollis committed suicide.
“If she would’ve just known how much we loved her, she would’ve known it was a mistake,” Hannah’s sister, Holleigh Hollis, told KPRC 2 News in Houston.
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Hannah Hollis’ death prompted students, friends and family to request a memorial page for her in Pearland …show more content…
“I did not personally know Hannah, but as someone who struggled with demons of their own, I am horrified that we cannot honor one of our own because of how this beautiful soul passed,” creator Ericka Chang-Kalandros wrote in the petition.
Chang-Kalandros wrote that while Hollis’ death was a tragedy, her life was a blessing. The yearbook staff sought to “honor her beautiful life rather than romanticize her death.”
“The stigmas surrounding mental illness have never been more prevalent in our school than right now,” Chang-Kalandros wrote. “Because of these stigmas, we cannot honor our fellow classmate, athlete, and, most of all, friend. Not only will this page allow her friends and family to see that we are united as a student body behind them through these difficult times, it will also bring awareness to those who suffer in silence as Hannah did.”
More than 6,000 people signed the petition. Many of them gave written reasons for signing.
“I’m signing, because no one deserves to go through what she went through alone,” Hannah Armstrong, of Pearland, wrote. “The school needs to show that they will help and support anyone who needs
Hannah Rose Hollis, a 17-year-old senior at Pearland High School, had recently celebrated her acceptance into Texas A&M University, where she would follow in her older sisters’ footsteps in the fall. The celebration turned to heartbreak for her family and friends on March 19, when Hollis committed suicide.
“If she would’ve just known how much we loved her, she would’ve known it was a mistake,” Hannah’s sister, Holleigh Hollis, told KPRC 2 News in Houston.
>> Read more trending stories
Hannah Hollis’ death prompted students, friends and family to request a memorial page for her in Pearland …show more content…
“I did not personally know Hannah, but as someone who struggled with demons of their own, I am horrified that we cannot honor one of our own because of how this beautiful soul passed,” creator Ericka Chang-Kalandros wrote in the petition.
Chang-Kalandros wrote that while Hollis’ death was a tragedy, her life was a blessing. The yearbook staff sought to “honor her beautiful life rather than romanticize her death.”
“The stigmas surrounding mental illness have never been more prevalent in our school than right now,” Chang-Kalandros wrote. “Because of these stigmas, we cannot honor our fellow classmate, athlete, and, most of all, friend. Not only will this page allow her friends and family to see that we are united as a student body behind them through these difficult times, it will also bring awareness to those who suffer in silence as Hannah did.”
More than 6,000 people signed the petition. Many of them gave written reasons for signing.
“I’m signing, because no one deserves to go through what she went through alone,” Hannah Armstrong, of Pearland, wrote. “The school needs to show that they will help and support anyone who needs