Acts of fortification
Janrey Dela Merced
Dread. Pain. Stress. Suffering. A cyclical course of melancholia pervading one’s thoughts and scourging the innocence an individual struggles to uphold.
The time of the year where mournful souls departed from their host induced by the pressure of the society― Suicide Month, has passed with a dreary end. As teens try to live in a cruel world where the societal standards dictate how one must eat, sleep, act and live, those innocent and meek individual unexposed to the savagery of life may end in two fates; live and prosper to survive a crucial stage in life or no longer be able to see another day now laying in an enclosed box covered in dirt. But, everyone deserves to taste relief and find comfort amidst being prey from the teeth of depression and stress. Certain acts must be employed to guide those who are stray and save those who have fallen into the void before another tombstone grows from the ashes of those who lost hope.
Act I: As the society grows its population along with the integration of technology and trends, the new generation are nurtured as digital natives who pries virtual attention and feed themselves of false sentiment. Nowadays, most people are trapped in a pseudo-realm that takes place in social media which perpetuates false interaction and affection degrading one’s mind. A pit of dark musty mud of agony and torture dragging everyone down until every part of their being is swallowed by despair. Seek for help! Showing vulnerability is a humane act, for we have our own weaknesses and strengths that make up who we are as a person. Calling for someone’s aid and comfort does not constitute you for being weak, it rather shows how strong you are to display your feelings― that you are a person worthy of real affection and should not be trampled with social defamation. Speak up rather than hanging yourself up.
Act II: As man goes through distress, they hide, cry and isolate themselves from the world. Crumpling every possible hope one could find, for depression, stress, and despair has stabbed a teenager’s being. As schoolwork, virtual relations, and social connectivity that envisions to nurture young minds has failed its purpose. Continuing to survive and endure the challenges of this new normal and complying to the demands of the Online Distance Learning (ODL) system, students are immersed in a new set of dilemmas. Slow internet connection, congested workload, lack of gadgets are just some of the issues most students are experiencing. Others halted attending their classes, while others forced themselves to continue on with this system. But little do others know, the pressure and strain some students go through just to get by in life and their academics. The very epitome of education as a system to culture students and as schools who attend to the needs of the students, has come to the very reason students drown themselves in anguish and desperation. But, as these conundrums drag us down, may we never forget that these are just challenges that make us strong. May we see hope in this void of darkness we currently dwell and realize that we may see light along the journey. Let’s continue dreaming rather than lacerating.
Act III: We live to coexist with others. As some attend to our needs for comfort and affection, may we see that we are not the only one whose troubles are viable. Those who suffer from depression are not readily identifiable, thus vigilance is of the essence. Some may be suicidal but seems to display a healthy and glistening stature, which makes lending others the comfort that they need harder. As we heal ourselves from the abyss of lethal thoughts, may we see others cry for help and not disclose the chance we received to live life in a brighter picture. Let’s stop owning all the pain and start helping others regain― the healthy charisma before the bundle of dilemma.
As we walk around this world and see others seemingly covering their pain, may we look past it and ask ourselves, “Is it a muffled down cry for help or a gleaming SOS sign everyone tries to avoid?“ May vigilance aid us to attend to those in need and free the youth who are shackled to their sorrow. Let’s live and see the future we work for.