Permanent Solutions

Working with college students means that you get to celebrate with them. They get scholarships, internships, they meet significant others and sometimes find their life's passion. Usually, at the end of my tenure in their lives they are graduating, walking down across the stage in a cap and gown.

Usually.

Other times, we don't celebrate. They don't walk across the stage, they don't make their families proud; instead they make them cry. 

I had a student step in front of a train this weekend. He gave up everything and everyone and stepped onto those tracks and physically out of the life of everyone who loved him. 

I packed up some of his belongings today, locking them safely up until his family comes to collect the remnants of his young life. His two guitars and extra large amp, the buckets and street performer license that he used to make money, the paper he wrote about the impact that his parents had on his life, the note from his father that ended with the words, "Text me or call if you need anything, I love you - Dad".

I've gotten better at dealing with student death - but it doesn't stop being tragic and sad.