"What’s the difference between spending your life trying to beinvisible, or pretending to be the person you think everyone wants you to be? Either way, you’re faking."
A line which struck me when I was just completing “Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Picault –a startling and poignant story about the devastating aftermath of a small-town tragedy. The book asks what it means to be different in our society, who has the right to judge someone else, and whether anyone is ever really who they seem to be. It also left me scared – for the kids of today’s generation. It is ironical that as teenagers, we always want to “fit in” and as we grow up, we want to “stand out”. Both the processes no matter how different, manages to stress us out, if not tackled well…
Though this is just a book, all of us have read reports of violence by school kids both in India and abroad. Violence and shootings happen in extreme cases. Some of us may have also seen after effects of peer pressure, not fitting in, child abuse, bullying etc. which - though may not appear to be as harmful (as compared to the shootings) do leave a mark on the spirits and psyche of a child. If not dealt with effectively, the mark may alter one’s life.
The parents, teachers and extended family of the kids have to be sensitive and alert …the kids are at such an impressionable age, they need guidance/ emotional support/ listening boards…it’s a delicate scenario as teens also want to be left alone. Too much interference/ control can put them off…they stop sharing….they have to be dealt tactfully.
“Nobody is perfect” – you can start by instilling this thought process.
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