Suicide-prevention event: A personal invitation to ‘Out of the Darkness’ walk

Lauren Clayton, ReporterNovember 4, 2022Leave a Comment

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Lauren Clayton, a junior at Prosper High school stands in front of a Hope Squad banner. She advocates for mental health and suicide prevention by raising money and joining in the Prosper “Out of Darkness” walk. The Prosper Out of the Darkness walk will take place on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 5, in Windsong Ranch. Registration and T-shirt pickup will start at 8:30 in the morning, and the walk kick-off will start at 10 a.m. “I will be joining hundreds of thousands of people across the country who are walking in the “Out of the Darkness” walks to prevent suicide and to support AFSP’s mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide,” Clayton said. “It’s a worthy cause, and one deserving of support from our community.”

The Prosper Out of the Darkness walk will take place on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 5, in Windsong Ranch. Registration and T-shirt pickup will start at 8:30 in the morning, and the walk kick-off will start at 10 a.m. I plan to be there.

It’s funny how things can change in a short amount of time. Three years ago I couldn’t leave my closet. Now I’m at Prosper High School, somehow surviving AP classes, taking dance classes – and making new friends.

For as long as I can remember, I was the hyper, weird kid with ADHD. I struggled socially, because other kids didn’t know how to react to my energy, as well as academically, because teachers would misinterpret my inconsistency and struggles with motivation as me not caring or not wanting to be there.

In middle school, I began to feel judged, like everything I did was wrong. No matter how hard I tried, it felt like I always failed. I felt different, lonely, and unknown.

As a result, I secluded myself from society and from other kids. I buried myself in books and refused to interact with real people or real life. It got so bad in 8th grade that I shut myself off from everyone and everything and wouldn’t leave my room.

At one point my anxiety and depression got so bad that I began to believe I would never develop relationships with anyone. I felt like I had no reason to live and no hope for things to get better.

I am participating in this walk because I don’t want anyone to ever feel as alone as I did. I want people to know others are out there who care about them and will support them. l want them to know they can get past these struggles – just like I did – and can have successful and productive lives, managing the fear of having no one and feeling like they aren’t worthy of existing.

Please consider joining me in supporting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

I will be joining hundreds of thousands of people across the country who are walking in the “Out of the Darkness” walks to prevent suicide and to support AFSP’s mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. It’s a worthy cause, and one deserving of support from our community.