Boyd writes about three individuals Vincent, Kippa, and Peter who are students dealing with LGBTQ in K-12. There are three different perspectives, with three very similar social settings. With each person learning how to cope with his or her secrets. 

 

In response to Vincent, Kippa, and Peter, I feel that despite of being so young and dealing with what others would think about them during their adolescents, these are 3 very normal students/young adults being forced by society to live in fear.

            Imagine what it is like to live in fear and shame at a young age.  Has anyone ever felt the way Vincent, Kippa, and Peter, has have in High School? I personally struggled with my stuttering. I would be made fun of, and what made it worse was when a teacher would call the person out and send them out in the hall. That never made life better in school. It made it worst. My point is that most people are born exactly the way they where meant to be born. Usually in the beginning of the adolescent’s age, it is rather tough to cope with stress at such a young age. The fact that people want to end their lives it very scary and it doesn’t matter what the reason is, adolescents shouldn’t have the thought of suicide.

            Kippra says “Suicidal thoughts are a coping mechanism, an unhealthy one, but one that some of us take a long time to decide isn’t an option anymore,” (n.d. p. 13).

Why do you think suicide is a common theme with adolescents?

For a lesson I would like to have my students do a post secret card and on one side list and visually illustrate the reasons why students may feel that suicide is the only option. And on the other side list or visually illustrate some solutions that may prevent suicide. Try to make a difference with your choice of images and drawings. Think outside the box to make the connections to both sides of your post secret card.