Spring-Ford Students Confessing Fears, Crushes on Facebook Page

Most teenagers would probably agree that they would like to be able to talk about their day-to-day issues, whether it concerns someone they have a crush on, an issue at school or a problem at home. With the advent of the internet, those sorts of worries, fears and even day-to-day triumphs are often brought out much more publicly than in the past.

Even schoolyard taunting has taken on new shapes. Where insults or derogatory comments used to be passed in notes or written on bathroom walls (or, in this writer's middle school life, written in "slam books" that would get passed around until they showed up on the subject's desk one day), now they go up on Facebook or Twitter for everyone to see. 

A Facebook page recently popped up where Spring-Ford Area High School students can air their grievances, crushes, and victories anonymously, with only the page's administrator knowing who posted. 

The page's creator has set up a one-question SurveyMonkey page where anyone can submit a post. The survey page doesn't ask for an e-mail or a name, and the creator takes what's posted and shares it on the Facebook page. 

Many of the posts are normal teenage thoughts, such as post No. 944: "I have a big crush on this guy in my English class, he is soo cute and he has a twin but I think he's the cuter one!!"

Some of the posts are even prom proposals: "939. [Name] is a beautiful young woman who I will never get to know to the best of my ability. I've had a crush on her since 6th Grade and never expressed how I felt to her. ... [Name], I'd love to take you to Prom if you're not going with anyone."

Most of the posts that mention a person by name are often tagged for that person and a few people have even responded. 

However, some of the posts veer into the troubling side of being a teenager - bullying, pregnancy concerns, and confessions about depression and suicide attempts.

"Know what's not fun? A breakdown in school. Where you can't do anything but cry. Because you've put up with people's crap for far too long. You're treated like a piece of dirt. No one wants to get to know you," says post No. 902.

Post No. 1017 wonders how to tell her parents that she's pregnant. 

Post No. 963 explains a suicide attempt, but goes on to implore anyone considering suicide to talk to someone. 

"It gets better. Trust me it does," says the writer. 

Others offer up opinions, such as "high school is a little early for engagement" (post No. 1007) or that love can last after high school. The writer of post No. 1013 says he and his girlfriend are still together despite being sophomores in college in two different states. 

Monday, April 15 marked post No. 1000 and the author of that post had some very insightful advice: "the 10 steps to have a good high school experience."

"1) [S]top caring what people think. 2) get involved. Do something that makes you happy, not someone else. 3) don't try to "fit in". I guarantee you'll have a better time with the "nerds or band geeks" then the bitchy, cocky boys and girls at sf. 4) be yourself. You were made to Stand out and you were made different for a reason. 5) don't try to please everyone. It'll never happen we all have our differences. 6) talk to whoever you want. If you wanna talk to that cute boy in chem class, do It! What's the worst he could say or do? 7) smile. It's the prettiest feature and it might make someone's day. 8) stop judging people. You don't know their reasoning or logic on certain things so worry about yourself, not them. 9) talk to people. Just saying hi to someone new could make their day better, and in extreme cases, just them knowing they exist to someone could save them from doing harm to themselves. 10) be happy. Only you can make yourself happy. Don't sit around in self sorrow. Go do something and live life. You only get one.

The anonymous writer closes with these encouraging thoughts: "But just know that high school is only four years then you're done. You'll never have to do it again. You can make it through. Anyone can."