March 1st--Self-Injury Awareness Day

I bet no one truly knew the meaning to that date. This saddens me. It makes me sad that so many people don't think about this arising issue. I say this even if there was no awareness day. I say this because so many people make jokes about something so large. I can only wish that people would understand what self-injury is, and what it means to people. The following file I am about to attach is a personal research paper that I wrote in my English class of my junior year. I would not mind comments on the paper and my following rant. If you cannot open the paper, and wish to read it, please let me know. I will glady email it to you.

 March 1st is self injury awareness day. Orange is the color, much like pink is the color for breast cancer. Just like last year I made ribbons for my school, all by myself with a few friends. Not a school group, not a lot of people. Just about five people, cutting YARN, and tying it all together, and all that jazz. Sadly it was so disorganised this year and I was behind with the scheduling. However, it turned out okay. Of course though, I hear the comments from students who are stupid and lazy teachers. Since I was behind on getting everything ready, teachers would have had to get the ribbons later on in first period to pass out to students. Many teachers did not feel like leaving there classrooms to get the ribbons from the office, and didn't see the point in the whole thing anyways. Students made comments that if it was self-injury awareness day, then why did we have safety pins?? Ribbons were shredded, stepped on, dropped. My hard work, my money, my time was just shoved aside. Several teachers did take it seriously though. They did try and help out, and they do understand. A few days after the event, I asked my Sociology class about it. I started out with some along the lines of, "Many of you may have seen me messes with orange yarn, and many of you may have been wondering why. Well March 1st was Self-Injury Awareness Day, and I would like to know who knew about it," I then received blank stares, and a few raised hands. I then asked, "I am bringing this up because I would now like to know who took it seriously? Be honest," once again blank stares, and a few raised hands. "I want you all to know that this is a huge issue, and I thought that this year people would be more understanding considering the incidents we have had in the past (a suicide)," a few shocked looks, "I thought that there would be more concern. I guess I was wrong. I did not expect everyone to think this was serious, but I did want a few more than I had. I want you to know that this is no joke. Self-injury is a big deal that occurs with so many teenagers. It is most often associated with gothic/emo stereotypes. However this is no stereotype. It doesn't occur with just one label. It could be anyone and you don't even know it. It could be your best friend, or someone in your family." This resulted in more shocked and blank looks. "It is not a joke either, you should not make comments about 'go cut your wrists, because someone may just go do that. It is very offensive to have spent my time, my money, and my hardwork be bashed in such manners. I am trying to help and make people realise that they need to help others as well." I went on in this fashion, and several people said if they had received a ribbon they would have worn it and taken the matter seriously and not have made jokes. Several people were shocked I had done this all by myself. I continue to think about why this topic is such taboo when it is so obvious that it is real. Why do people think it is ALWAYS for attention? What if it is? But not in the manner they think. What if they are trying to gain your attention so they can get help? What if they are trying to get your attention so they have some attention, no matter the reaction?

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