Quote It Contest

Hi guys sorry this wasn't posted on Friday, I was out of town. But this is this week's contest. You have to do three things for this contest. Enter at your own risk, this is my warning.

First, you have to watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5g4mvCJqHs

Warning: This video is Olivia Penpraze's video. She's a 19 year old girl who commited suicide April 3rd, 2012. It's very emotionally wrenching so enter this contest at your own discretion.

Second, I want you to pick a line off one of her notecards and write something about it. For example if I was competing in this contest I'd pick the line 'No one understands psychosis' then write a poem or short story or novel about it or pertaining to it.

Third, read at least one of the entries into the contest, and post either your favorite story or the video on whatever social networking site you use. Since I have a tumblr that's what I would use, and I'll also be linking it on my booksie pages (this one and my other booksie account Maddie Carr).

This video really affected me because last week on Thursday March 14th I almost lost my best friend to suicide, and it was all my fault. I'm the one he stole the pills from and said nothing, I'm the one who saw him sliding deeper and deeper into his depression, I saw his cutting getting worse, I knew he wasn't sleeping, I knew his demons were tearing him apart... yet I didn't do enough to help him. I tried... but not my hardest, I told our guidance counselor, I stood by him even when he pushed me away, I tried to always be there for him, I made him cut back on his cutting... but it still wasn't enough. I didn't do enough to help him or get him help and I almost lost him. Thankfully he's ok, but I can't help but hate myself for not doing enough for him. If I had done more he could have gotten help before it was too late, but I didn't so it's my fault.

And I don't want to see anyone feel the way I feel. Like you could have done more. It's the worst feeling in the world knowing that you almost had someone's blood on your hands. I'm doing this contest not only for the people who are suffering like this poor beautiful girl did; but also for those like me who want to help the people suffering, but don't know how to help. Here's how you help, break the stigma of mental illness, of self harm, of disorders. You talk about it, be the shoulder to cry on. You get people who are suffering help.

If you're suffering, get help. You deserve it, you mean so much to someone else. You dying could tear another person's world apart. Almost losing my best friend did tear mine apart.

If you're like me and feel like you can't help, you can. Don't be afraid to tell your friend's parents or your guidance counselor or another adult who can help. We're just teenagers and we don't know how to solve these problems, get an adult to help you help someone. I wish I had come to this realization earlier.

I'm sorry if this is rambly guys, but this is a contest I feel that needs to be done. If you do all the three steps above and leave a comment below telling me you did (with proof that I can verify, like your tumblr or twitter url or whatever) then I will write all your booksie names down on a paperchain link and link them all together. Then I'll post a picture up of it. I'm doing it to signify to everyone that you're not alone and that someone, somewhere cares about you.

Thanks you guys, I love you all.

~Maddie