Highest of highs, lowest of lows

Happy National Running Day! I think it's neat that runners all over the country laced up their shoes today to log a few miles. I got in a run this morning with my friends Johnna and Tom, and really enjoyed not only the run, but the conversation too. 

Today is also my friend Andrea's 30th birthday! Happy Birthday, lady! We'll be celebrating not only her birthday this weekend, but also her bachelorette party, since Andrea will be marrying the love of her life, Kelly, in only two short weeks! 

Today is also a hard day. Yesterday, I learned of the passing of one of my students. Andrew Weber was a junior I had in my Honors class this year. He was funny and kind. He always lifted others up instead of bringing others down. He had aspirations of being a rapper, which he admitted he knew people looked at him like he was crazy and couldn't do it. But he wanted to do it anyway. On Saturday, he suddenly went in to cardiac arrest, and yesterday morning, they learned he had no brain activity and removed life support. He leaves behind so many family members and friends who love him. He and his girlfriend shared a locker right outside my classroom. So many of us at LPHS will miss him. 

Late last night, we learned of the passing of two more former students. One was 20, and would have graduated a few years ago, but the other was a junior. They were found together, and it appears as though the cause was overdosing. This makes me so sad, on so many levels, but mostly because these are not the first students we've lost because of drugs. I wish I knew what to do, some way to help, some way to stop this problem, some way to help these kids. We need to do more, so many of us acknowledge that, but I think we all feel lost on how to help. 

It is so odd to me how things can be so good, and so bad in the exact same moment. It's summer. There are so many good things going on in life right now. But at the same time, there is this aching and sadness for these lost lives that won't go away. I just wish I knew how to fix it all. 

Say some prayers for our students and their friends and family, if you're the praying kind.