Presentation: Teen Suicide

Throughout the past few days I have seen multiple presentations, but the presentation about teen suicide was very interesting. This presentation had a lot of good facts and I could really connect to it. The facts they included were about teen suicide websites and how when kids get bored they visit these websites. This topic affects me because in the past few years many teens have committed suicide. I personally have known some people who think about suicide, but have never actually tried. Everyone is affected by teen suicide and more people need to become aware of this problem. I believe if more people are aware of it then we can help prevent it. Teen suicide is rising and we need to prevent teens from doing this. Even though multiple presentations were interesting, the teen suicide one was the one that affected me the most.

Changing...For the Better or Worse

As I read on in the book Losing Forever by Gayle Friesen, I learned there were two sides to if a combined family effects the way people are; one, it does effect people or two it doesn't. I personally think it does effect the way people are in either good or bad ways. To start off, it makes people judgemental. "I'd try so hard to push the monsters back into the shadows." This shows that the main character, Jess, is immediately judging her step-sister Angela even though she hasn't had a conversation with her yet. Another way it effects people for the better is it makes people learn how to share. "She's going to stay with us. In my room. I have a roommate." This shows that even though Jess doesn't really want to have her space invaded she still has to learn how to share it with Angela. Lastly, being in a combined family helps you learn to deal with change. "This was not the normal state of my room." This shows the reader now that Jess has to share her room with Angela, she has to deal with what changes Angela makes to the room because it is now hers as well. In the book Losing Forever by Gayle Friesen, it clearly shows how being in a combined family effects the way people are for the good or the bad.

Combined Families: Good or Bad?

As I started reading Losing Forever by Gayle Friesen, I noticed some pros and cons about combined families. To start off one positive thing is that children always have a place to go. "I rang the buzzer at Dad's apartment..." This shows that when she didn't want to be at her moms house with her step dad that she could go to her dads house instead. A negative reason about having a combined family is your space gets invaded. "...stick her in a tent in the backyard for all i care. Just not in my room." This shows that the daughter, Jes, doesn't want her soon to be step-sister staying in her room with her and would rather have her somewhere else because she needs her own space. Finally, children are forced to get a long with their step-siblings/parents. "Jes, I know you're not thrilled about getting a stepfather..." This shows the reader that her mom knows she doesn't like her soon to be stepfather, but basically she is going to have to deal with it because it's going to happen. Conflicts with combined families is clearly shown in the book Losing Forever by Gayle Friesen.