WIPS Day One and Abuse

I have a lot to say and I hope I say it all and say it the way I want to.  

Today was a great day. I didn't have either period of geometry because the 9th and 10th graders had to go to the assembly. The assembly was incredible, but I'll talk about that after I speak on the topic of WPIAL swimming championships.

Well 3 and 1/2 hours inside that natatorium was hell on my head. I came out with a wicked headache but it was worth it. Our girls are in first place by 35 points. The medley relay team consisting of Ashley, Amanda, Emily, and Nadiya took first place. Ashley came in second in the 200 IM and Emily tied for second in the 50 free. Amanda didn't do nearly as well as she wanted in her 100 butterfly, but I know she's going to rebound and kick ass in the 100 back tomorrow.

I had so much fun sitting with Jared screaming for our girls; even the ones we didn't know. I think one girl's name was Meredith? Yeah, Meredith sounds right. Anyway, I've become quite the swim fan. Decked out in a West Allegheny swim shirt and red and gray beads. I yelled and yelled for those girls today and felt like a parent or something. I was shaking so bad for Ashley's 200 IM. It was ridiculous.

I'm excited for tomorrow, except I'm going to take some Advil with me and combat the pain. I can say I actually love watching swimming. Swimming is so neat because it's your best against someone else's best. No outside factors, just you against them. If you lose you have no one to blame but yourself. Amanda, if you read this I hope you know that we're all proud of you. And calling a spade a spade, sure you didn't swim your best race today. But in the grand scheme of things today's race is one of the smallest mishaps you will ever face. The fact that you cried over it shows more about the person you are than any gold, silver, or bronze medal would. You can time any race you want, but you can't measure someone's heart. You just can't.

After the meet Jared, Ashley, Amanda, Mr. and Mrs. Gannon, and myself went to eat at Bravo. Mr. Gannon paid which was nice of him. You have to acknowledge times like that. Simple times surrounded by great people. I'll miss times like this when I'm away at college.

The other neat thing was when I went to the bathroom I walked by a door that had a sign for women's gymnastics. Obviously since my mom's time as a gymnast they've changed up the rooms, but it was neat remembering my mom was a college athlete. Often times her extensive vocabulary and overwhelming intelligence makes me forget that she was a good gymnast. I also sat inside by the pool and sent my Aunt Maureen a picture of the pool. She swam at Pitt, her event was some distance in the butterfly. It's neat seeing my ties to Pitt. Seeing that my grandpa went there on a caddying scholarship, my aunt went there to swim, and my mom did gymnastics there. Really a heartwarming moment.




I've realized that no matter where I end up for college or where I live when I'm older, Pittsburgh will always be home. 


Now back to our assembly today. It was about abusive teen relationships. And in particular about a young girl some five years ago who was stabbed to death by her ex boy friend. It was an eye opening, horrifically sad story that shook me. I looked around at some of my classmates and saw that they had been abused in their past relationships. Maybe not physically, but definitely emotionally and verbally. It made me realize how prevalent the abuse is. I could go on and on about abuse but I'll try to keep it short and to the point.

No matter if you're a boy or girl, you don't deserve that. I promise anyone who reads this that if they need someone to talk to about an abusive relationship that I am here. Obviously these are only words on a blog, but I mean it wholeheartedly. If you read my blog, then I love you, and if I love you then I'll do anything for you. That's the way I work. So please don't hesitate to come to me for help. If not me go to your best friend or your parents. They want to know this kind of stuff. And while we're reluctant to tell them a lot of stuff we do and a lot of stuff that happens, this is something they need to know. Demi's parents probably wonder to themselves every day what if? What if they would've asked her about it? What if she would have told them? What if she wasn't home alone that night? All these what ifs won't bring back their beautiful daughter though. Nothing will. And that is a sad, sad thought. You work so hard to raise your daughter to be a marvel citizen only to have her life taken by some boy enraged because of a break up? It isn't fair. And while they say life isn't fair, that saying just doesn't cover something like this. This was an atrocity, an avoidable atrocity that wasn't avoided due to a lack of knowledge. Get informed about signs of abuse, it might just save a life.

Final thoughts for the night are this. If I ever, ever come in contact with a man who has hit a woman I'll lose it. I don't care if it's a girl I have no affiliation with or it's my own mother. If you hit a woman everything else is irrelevant. Laying hands on a female is unforgivable. I pray the day never comes where I'm in the presence of an abuser. I have no tolerance at all for it, and I won't be rational with them. There is nothing rational about hitting a girl, so why should I give you time to explain yourself? It's inexcusable and the day I'm face to face with someone who has done it is the day I'll finally fight. Two things I promise to fight for in this world; any woman and any part of my family. 


Actually here's the last thing. Chivalry is far from dead. I like to think of myself as a chivalrous young man. I'm no knight in shining armor; rather a kid in a pea coat, but I'll show you the way you should be treated. I promise that.


NP: The Break Up Song- Wale