Schools Lose

I've found that the local noon news show gives a perspective I prefer. A bit more casual, but breaking news often hits me hard emotionally. I'm broken hearted at 12:34 today, September 10th, 2012.

Sheyana (pronunciation) Gray, a 16-year old who had changed schools over the summer, was found murdered, floating in the Trinity River (which runs through the Dallas area). Students, her friends from a Mesquite District high school, spoke highly of her as a friend. Her former basketball coach said, "She was full of life."

I taught school twelve years myself. I lost a Cambodian student to death in 1987, a student from El Salvador in 1988, and a former sixth grade student who made it to high school, fathered two children, and died before the age of 17 due to gang violence. Each death left my soul feeling a bit more empty. Can there be an answer to why?

Exact mistakes are usually not repeated, but sometimes making bad decisions is. Should you or shouldn't you? What is the worst possible thing that could happen to me if I did this thing?

A mistake is usually an autonomic reaction, like breathing. You don't even think about it. You go for what you want. The news video of this story can be found at:

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Shania-Gray-12p-update-169188086.html