Joni was a ninth grade student at Hillcrest High School. She loved to draw and sing, but didn't really think she was good at anything. When her mother died last year, before Christmas, she lost her best friend. She never thought she would have to grow up without her mother. Joni's world became very dark, and everyone who she thought was her friend disappeared into the darkness. She walked down the halls at school alone. She never bothered looking up, because no one ever said hello.
The football coach at Hillcrest noticed Joni in the hall, walking slowly with her head low. He felt like he needed to do something for her. At football practice that day he took a moment in the huddle to talk to the team about how important their leadership ability can be. He gave them a challenge. He asked them to say "hi" to Joni in the hall. He said that he would not ask them to do more than that. They didn't have to date her, call her, or go out of their way to sit by her at lunch. Just say "hi".
Joni had been depressed for what felt like a lifetime. She was thinking about taking her own life. She went to school, it was a dreary Monday morning. She stood by her locker praying the bell would ring so she could escape the halls. She heard a deep voice say "Hi, Joni." She looked around and thought maybe she had heard things. She turned back to face her locker and heard the same thing. There were only football players near her and so she knew she must be going crazy, they had never bothered with her before. She always thought she was too "plain" for them. She turned to face the crowded hall and two more boys smiled and said "hi, Joni." Skeptical at first, she nodded her head and looked back at the ground. The next day the football players said "hi" to Joni again. It still felt surreal that "these" people would even know her name, but it did make her feel better.
As the pleasantries continued, Joni felt increasingly better about her life. She felt like people noticed her. She began to look people in the face as they walked by. She would smile at people as they approached her. Her pain lessened as she looked forward to seeing some of the boys from the football team who had taken their coaches challenge.
Thoughts about the story:
-Why was Joni feeling depressed?
-Are suicidal thoughts serious?
-How do you feel when someone says "hi" to you?
-When you walk down the hall do you notice other people?
-How many people do you say "hi" to in the hall?
-What else can you do to help someone that you think is depressed?
Joni was sinking into deep depression when these boys began to say "hello". If no one had noticed she may have acted on her suicidal thoughts.
Everything we do makes a difference. We don't need any special talents to say "hello" and be kind. You never know, you may save someone's life.
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