Over the course of my many years in the Newark Public School system I've encountered far too many heart wrenching stories involving our youth. I remember one of my cases was a tenth grade student named Michelle who was suicidal. Michelle was young and completely head over heels for her boyfriend. Loving the attention, craving the affection and acceptance as most girls her age do, she blinded herself to the consequences of being sexually active. She explained to me how she just wanted to make her boyfriend happy so she wouldn't lose him and that was all that mattered to her. She wasn't worried about contracting any STDs because her boyfriend didn't appear sick so they never discussed it. They had unprotected sex anywhere they could; the local park, McDonald's bathrooms, a friend's house, the Movie Theater, even at school. Sometimes she even let him film it with his cell phone. She told me of these cringe worthy events as if they were normal occurrences, something commonplace. The mother in me cried as I stared into the eyes of a 16 year old child who had set herself on a path to self destruction unbeknownst to herself. Michelle eventually became pregnant and her mother forced her to terminate the pregnancy. She was pregnant with twins and vehemently opposed having the abortion. She could not fathom killing one let alone two innocent babies growing inside of her womb. They were going to be the best part of her. They were going to love her unconditionally forever. But they were gone. This catapulted Michelle into such a deep depression that she didn't see any way out except to take her own life. She became obsessed with wanting to be with her babies as she proclaimed it many times during our sessions. Michelle still searches for a reason to be here, alive yet alone and with a great void in her heart. Broken emotionally, lost mentally and scarred physically for life. It is for her and the vast amount of children like her that I fight everyday to reach. To help them save their futures. To help them save themselves.