10/02/2026
đź’” ENOUGH. We Have to Do Better.
A young life is gone.
The heartbreaking death of 17-year-old Xavier Amaya, a student at Benjamin Franklin High School in Highland Park, should make every one of us stop and think.
Bullying is not “just joking.”
Words can hurt.
Humiliation can hurt.
Being excluded can hurt.
Being attacked day after day can leave wounds that nobody else can see.
And depression doesn’t always look like sadness. Sometimes the person laughing the loudest is struggling inside. Sometimes the quiet kid is carrying more than anyone realizes. Sometimes someone simply needs ONE person to notice them, sit beside them, defend them, or ask:
“Are you okay?”
Parents — talk to your children.
Teachers — pay attention to the child who suddenly becomes quiet.
Students — if you see someone being bullied, don't become part of the audience. Stand up. Speak up. Get an adult.
And to anyone who is struggling right now:
Your life matters.
This moment is not your entire story.
You are worthy of love.
You are worthy of friendship.
You are worthy of being here.
And asking for help does NOT make you weak.
Imagine how different our schools and communities could be if instead of trying to tear someone down, we made it our mission to lift someone up.
Be the person who sits with the kid sitting alone.
Be the person who says something when everyone else stays silent.
Be the person who chooses kindness when cruelty would be easier.
You never know when one small act of kindness could change — or even save — someone's life.
Tonight, my heart goes out to Xavier's family, his friends, his classmates, and the entire Franklin High School community. May this young man's life remind us that we have to take bullying and mental health seriously.
Check on your kids. Check on your friends. Check on the strong ones too.
We can do better.
We must do better. ❤️
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or thinking about su***de, call or text 988 for immediate support.
