We joined with the students, staff and families in the Interboro School District the past few days in trying to answer a simple question: Why?

In the wake of the tragic suicide of two female students, we also now plan to give equal treatment to attempt to make sure this does not happen again.

There has been a lot of rumor, talk and just plain gossip that the deaths of Vanessa Dorwart and Gina Gentile were part of a suicide pact.
Officials fear other students also had pledged to take their lives.

The fear now is to be sure that does not happen. Suicide is not the answer.

It has been fairly accurately depicted as a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

The problem too often with young people is that they don’t look past the “now.” They don’t consider the effect of their actions down the line.
They don’t realize that things will get better, even if it takes weeks or months. All they feel is the hurt of now.

And it sometimes drives them to do rash things.

Yesterday we went to Interboro High School to monitor how things were going as students returned to school for the first time since the tragedy occurred.

Not all the students were happy to see us. And they were fairly vocal in letting us know exactly how they felt. That goes with the territory. We can take it. We’re not there to exploit them. We want to be part of the solution.

Likewise, Interboro School District is taking steps to make counselors available to any kids who feel the need to reach out for help.

We urge parents and their children not think they have to do this alone.
Reach out. Get help.

Don’t let this happen again.