Teen Boy Struggles
G'day guys,
I'm Noah from Australia, and at just 16, I've seen quite a bit compared to most adults.
You see, here in Australia we've got a volunteer rescue organisation called the State Emergency Service (SES). You can join as soon as you're 16 years of age. However, my parents have been the Group Leader and Deputy Group Leader at our local station ever since I was born. So, ever since I was a baby, I've attended training and everything.
Now that I'm a proper member, I'm seeing just a glimpse of what first responders go through. Just a few weeks ago, we were conducting a search and rescue for a missing 15-year-old boy.
I found him.
He had cuts on his arms and was sobbing. I froze because I knew he needed help. I had all my training, I knew what I had to do, but where do I start?
Because of my training, I should have radioed the police immediately to tell them he had been found. But I didn't. I knew all they were going to do was call an ambulance and take this poor kid to hospital, which is exactly what he needed. But I wanted to talk to him first.
Those thoughts only took about three seconds to go through my head before I walked up to him and gave him a hug, because I'm sure he needed it. I talked with him for about 15 minutes before I got the police and ambulance involved.
To this day, I still stay in touch with him.
He was going to take his life that day.
I'm sick and tired of hearing, "Real men don't cry." Unfortunately, if I just kneeled down and sobbed at school, I'd probably be made fun of.
If you're reading this and you're a teenage boy who wants to talk, please know that my chat is wide open. I can't fix your problems, but I can definitely talk with you about them.
"If you need help, go find it. If you need help, call your mates, and if they don't pick up your phone call, they're not your mates!" – Wade Forster
You should be proud to have feelings. You should be proud to feel something. It's one of the toughest things you can do as a human being, so why bottle it up?
Picture: SES Responds To Body Recovery
@NoahSleemo
I think that is a blessing in many ways and it will form you a lot in your life. Thank you for sharing!
Regarding emotions... I know what u mean... you r talking about bottling in completely, right? Like not expressing feelings at all? Yes, I believe it is bad.
But feelings have to be in a right place. Men don´t cry... well, there is time to cry and there is time not to. Men dont ask for help. Well, we should be self reliant in a way and not be dependant like little children on parents, right? But we should ask for help when needed. Like we can´t be too emotional either. And follow our emotions. Dont you agree? I think there is healthy balance.