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From the perfect face to the perfect waist, many people have that dream. The PR Newswire stated, “More than 90 percent of girls ages fifteen to seventeen years old want to change at least one aspect of their physical appearance, with body weight ranking the highest.” This is an epidemic that not only faces teens; it can also hit adults. Even celebrities can and have suffered from low self-esteem. Some celebrities are still going through this and they change their looks through plastic surgery. Those who have faced low self esteem in their teen age years include.

• Johnny Depp (actor)
• Colin Ferrell (actor)
• Kelly Holmes (athlete)
• Amy Winehouse (singer)
• Angelina Jolie (actress)

I once had low self-esteem, and felt that I was too fat and I was not good enough to be seen. I want to let the people who are facing this tragic epidemic know that you are beautiful and don’t let the opinion of others get you down.  While I was writing this I had strong emotions come toward me because I was in the same place and I made it past this. I am proud and I want to be able to help people who have not been able to love themselves.

If you need some one to talk, you can always see your counselor or go to nurses office and they can refer you to someone on campus to talk to.  If you are alone and feel really down, you can always call the Suicide Hot Line at 1-800-479-3339.  It’s free, confidential and the line is always open.

Suicide Prevention Week is from May 16 to the 20^, at Lincoln High School. There will be classroom presentations for 9 graders and an assembly for 11 graders in the theater that week. This will be a great opportunity to learn some ways to love yourself and to help others and it only takes one person to create change and that can be you.

I would like to leave you with a quote that I found on the web by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, which states, “People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.”

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