Sometimes students are viewed as naïve and innocent; we don’t really understand the “troubles of the world.” What we do understand is the troubles of our world. High school is a completely different place from the outside adult world, and we have our fair share of problems. What we need to be asking ourselves, is why?

Fear. I challenge you to find one student that has never been afraid for whatever reason. Whether its fear of school itself, or what it is beyond school. It can be self doubt, fear in ones abilities, or lack of abilities. We are afraid to get involved, afraid of what could happen if we don’t. We are afraid to try because we are afraid to fail. We are even afraid to succeed merely because others can be so judgemental. No one wants to be labelled, and we strive to blend in. Simplicity keeps us safe from ridicule. Even those who strive to be different are afraid. We’re all so afraid of letting our true selves show. If our true selves are out in the open, people are free to p