It Doesn’t Take Much to Make a DifferenceIf

teenagers who attend Salem Hills High School recently committed suicide.

Every time I hear of a sui- cide it really impacts me. I lost my 21 year old nephew, Jason, to suicide in 2018.

When I heard that mem- bers of the community were going to gather together outside of the high school holding up signs with words of encouragement, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. People from all around the community brought signs that they made and held them up for all the students to see as they were leaving campus.

There were people holding signs everywhere, from out- side of the exit doors where students leave the building, to all the way down the streets where students walk home.

While I was painting the signs, it made me wonder if the students would think they were lame. I was curi- ous if it would even have an impact. The plan was that I would meet my husband, Chris, there. When I got to the school, I was a little dis- appointed that more people with signs didn’t show up.

Feeling a little embarrassed and discouraged, I grabbed the signs and walked over to the corner exit of the parking lot. Chris showed up and we each held our signs. We stood together for a few minutes and then we each took a different corner so more students would see the signs.

There I stood feeling dumb, when all the sudden I started hearing honks. I looked up and noticed people honking and waving at our signs. I had students rolling down their car win- dows and yelling words such as “Thank you” and “I love your sign.”

I had a few students personally walk up to me and tell me that the sign meant a lot to them. Buses were passing by honking as students waved at the signs. People were passing by taking pictures and mak- ing heart shapes with their fingers. We had a fire truck pass by and blow its horn as fire fighters waved.

There are 2 people though who stood out to me the most. The first was a young was a woman who was pass- boy who was in the passen- ing by in a jeep. She looked ger seat of a car approaching to be in her mid 50’s. She me. The car stopped for a looked emotionally exhaust- minute while waiting in line ed and deep in thought. She to exit the parking lot. The turned her head towards young boy had his head rest- my sign and smiled this ed on his hand while leaning huge smile. Her face perked against his window. I could right up. It was amazing to tell he was sad. He lifted his witness! head for a moment and no- It’s cool to see how much ticed my sign that said, “You of an impact words can have are worthy of love”. on a person. Everyone has

He put his hand down, wanted to give up at one held up his head and got a time or another. We have all smile on his face. His whole felt unloved, unworthy of countenance changed. It love or have hurt in love at was amazing! I then walked some point in time. over and joined Chris at the It was so awesome to see corner he was at. We held how much joy these signs our signs out for the oncom- brought to people. Some- ing traffic driving down the times all someone wants is road to see. validation and knowing ev-

The second person that erything will be okay. (Serve really made an impact on me