High Life. A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Who Do I Turn to When Yule Turns Away?
It’s winter holiday time again, and with the hustle and bustle inevitably comes the blues.
Depression is a fact of life, affecting one and all, young and old. How you handle it, however, can make all the difference.
Hot Topics asks, “To whom do you first turn for emotional support?”
“It depends on the type of emotional support you need. Usually it is right to go to your parents, but your heart sometimes tells you otherwise. In certain circumstances your heart is right.”
Hitesh S. Barot, 17,
senior, Huntington Beach
“I usually go to my boyfriend, and when he’s not around I go to my mom. We are close, and we can be open with each other.”
Angela Hernandez, 17,
senior, La Habra
“I rely on myself in times of emotional crisis. Not that I don’t like to tell my parents my problems, it’s just easier for me to deal with it myself.”
Spencer Collins, 18,
senior, Saddleback
“For emotional support I first turn to my close friends. They often understand and can sympathize. Knowing that you’re not alone can provide a light at the end of a tunnel that would otherwise be dark and lonely.”
Betsy Osth, 16,
junior, Laguna Hills
“It will seem weird, but I’ll turn to music. If you listen to it, you always feel better. If you listen to it long enough, you’ll find the answer.”
Shannon Clausen, 17,
senior, Marina
“My mom, because she listens to me and understands the way I think and the way I feel.”
Kelly Kim, 15,
sophomore, Capistrano Valley
“I feel truly sorry for teens who are unable to talk to their parents. I have never had that problem. If I ever need emotional support, the first person I almost always turn to is my father. He treats me with respect and listens when I need comforting. My father is the best friend a girl could ask for.”
Kate Seymour, 15,
sophomore, Edison
“People I trust, like my mother.”
Elena Barrientos, 15,
sophomore, California Lutheran
“My best friend, because I trust her opinion and her values are the same (as mine) so I know she’ll understand, give me good advice and help me with my trouble.”
Alisa Ezell, 16,
junior, Brea-Olinda
“I don’t really turn to anyone. I get rid of my feelings by pretending not to feel anything, by trying to avoid (them).”
Akemi Ikei, 18,
senior, University
“I turn to my friends. They experience similar situations, so they can empathize with what you’re going through.”
Christopher Morgan, 17,
senior, Mater Dei
“I turn to my best friend when I have deep emotional problems.”
Scott Barrack, 16,
sophomore, St. Margaret’s
“Stacy, because she’s my girlfriend and also because she’s the only person I share my feelings with.”
Tony Truong, 17,
junior, Los Amigos
“My diary. It depends on the problem. If it’s a problem you need to get out to feel better, my dad.”
Dena Bowles, 15,
sophomore, Newport Harbor
“My mom, because she always seems to give the right advice, and she’s a real confidence-booster.”
Sara Leader, 15,
sophomore, Katella
“My sister, because she really understands me and she cares. She gives me her honest opinion, and I respect her for that.”
LoAnn Pham, 17,
senior, Rancho Alamitos
“Jesus Christ, because He is someone who has experienced everything I am now going through, and I can rely on him for the ultimate comfort.”
Nari Cho, 16,
junior, Laguna Hills
“Myself, because I figure I know myself better than anyone else.”
Alex Lopez, 18,
senior, St. Margaret’s
“My sister, because she is someone I can tell anything to without her judging me and getting mad at me.”
Theresa Sanderson, 17,
senior, Capistrano Valley
“I hold my emotions inside.”
Melinda Callaway, 16,
junior, La Habra
“My best friend, because like me, she usually has a lot of the same problems, and it’s easy for her to understand me.”
Lien Lan, 17,
senior, Saddleback
“Church.”
Jason Ferguson, 17,
junior, Newport Harbor
“My mother, because she’s always there for me when I need to talk to someone and because I’m very close to her.”
Monica Franco, 17,
senior, Rancho Alamitos
“I turn to my circle of friends. Depending on the problem, I would choose my guy friends or girl friends.”
Kumar Raja, 15,
sophomore, Marina
“I turn to my dad, because he’s my best friend.”
Kimberly Black, 17,
senior, Brea-Olinda
“My mother and my best friend.”
Vicki Sydow, 16,
senior, California Lutheran
“My friends, because I can trust them for comfort.”
Christine Cho, 17,
senior, University
“My best friend, because she always understands what I am feeling and will not leave me alone until she puts a smile on my face.”
Amanda Horack, 15,
sophomore, Edison
“My friends or my mom, because with my friends they are supportive and logical, and my mom is understanding. I also turn to God.”
Chris Davila, 17,
junior, Huntington Beach
“My mom, because I guess she understands me the most.”
Jimmy Tran, 14,
freshman, Los Amigos
“My friends, because they are always there for me.”
Citlally Santana, 15,
sophomore, Katella
“Dr. David Viscott.”
Paul Tayyar, 16,
sophomore, Newport Harbor
Next Week’s Hot Topic:
How do people misjudge you?
Responses gathered by Hallie Kim (Brea-Olinda), Dolores Gusman (California Lutheran), Julie Kim (Capistrano Valley), David Brinkman (Edison), Morgan Howard (Huntington Beach), David Fitzgerald (Katella), Loren Colin (Laguna Hills), Elaine Ust (La Habra), Jennifer Chau (Los Amigos), Veronica Lee (Marina), Caroline Lynch (Mater Dei), Dan Eastmond (Newport Harbor), Detra Vickers (Rancho Alamitos), Regina Hoang (Saddleback), Brooke Lyons (St. Margaret’s) and Eileen Hsu (University).