Video by Abby Foster and Caroline Yeager
By Emma Cummins
Staff Writer
As teenagers, figuring out our strengths and skills seems like an impossible task. But for some AP English III students, they have no problem in finding a way to put their skills to good use in the annual humanitarian aid project.
The group consists of six members. Coppell High School juniors, Jarrad Cisco, Laura Taylor, Taylor Stiff, Taylor Bell, Kristen Racz and Nino Teruya all joined the group because of their passion for suicide prevention.
Bell is the group leader and as a part of cross country, she felt it was her job to continue the Run for Like 5K which is held in honor of Jonah Blackwell who was also a cross country runner. Blackwell was a senior at CHS who died in 2012.
“Jonah made a really big impact on me. He was the first person to talk to me on the cross country team,” Bell said. “When he died, it impacted the whole cross country team.”
Bell and her team are fervent about suicide prevention as well. That, and their connection to Blackwell, made for the perfect combination.
“I know people who have committed suicide as well and no one did anything for them,” Bell said. “By doing this I’m making up for what I didn’t do when they died.”
AP English III teacher Tracy Henson also feels the issue of suicide prevention is one that should be talked about.
“It’s important for everyone to see that we haven’t forgotten and for the community to see and that it’s not a taboo topic, that it’s okay to talk about and ask for help when you’re struggling,” Henson said.
Henson also believes this kind of project will help kids in defining their talents and learning to know themselves better.
“We want to give kids an outlet to do something that they think matter,” Henson said. “Every person does matter, every person has the ability to make an impact in some way.”
The main focus of the English project is to give each student the opportunity to use the skills they have learned all year. Persuasive and rhetorical skills are the two focuses in English III and the students use these to raise money or contribute to a cause they feel passionately about.
“We ask students to research their organization pretty heavily and then to try and figure out where there might be a need within the organization and then to fill that gap,” Henson said.
The race has been run the past two years and sponsored by The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The first year, George Fairchild, a close friend of Blackwell held the race.
“I knew everyone needed something like this to help move on and cope with his death,” Fairchild said.
The first year, the race raised $5,000 and in the second year it raised $7,000.
CHS senior Noah Freedman also knew Blackwell through cross country. Running the first race was a memorable experience for him.
“Being able to do what we [cross country kids] did with him in honor of him was really amazing,” Freedman said.
The first race was an emotional experience for everyone. Now three years later, the race may take on a different meaning.
“It would be great if the race became a Coppell tradition because it’s always an issue that needs to be helped,” Freedman said.
Looking at the race as a way to raise an important issue as well as honor a loved one in a community will continue to have a positive effect on everyone and one that could continue for a very long time.
“It’s a wonderful way to honor him [Blackwell] and shine a spotlight on the fact that suicide is not an answer,” Henson said.
The team will continue this tradition and hopes to raise up to $10,000 this year.
The run will be held on May 9 at 8 a.m. Anyone who wants to sign up can either do so on the website, or can print out a waiver on the 5K race’s Facebook.
