Category Archives: Sam Lichtenstein

Dec 4 2011

Do What You Love

Last Sunday, I saw Panic! At the Disco. Concerts have basically taken over my life this past year; not that I’m complaining. Not very many people understand why I like them so much, or why I go to so many. People always say, “Oh, look, another band shirt. Do you own any real clothes?” or, “You’re going to another concert?! Didn’t you go to one last week?” I just smile and try to come up with a clever response as to why I spend my money on merch and my weekends waiting in line for hours in 80 degree weather. The real answer is that concerts make me happy. Not just the kind of happy you feel after buying a new pair of shoes or acing a math test; no, much more than that. I feel on top of the world. I feel as if nothing else matters and it’s just me, a screaming crowd, and the music. I’ve made countless friends at concerts that know a side of me people at school have never seen.
Music is something I truly love. Concerts are a place where I can express that love and share it with so many other people who feel the same. John Gomez from The Summer Set tweeted a little while ago saying, “Do something you truly love today.” I second what he’s saying and I think you should do something you love every single day. Listen to your favorite CD, go out and play your favorite sport, do something special with your best friend. Regardless of what it is, do something that makes you smile.

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” -Dalai Lama

Dec 4 2011

Words hurt.

One million children were harassed, threatened, or subjected to other forms of cyberbullying in the past year.  All of this occurred primarily on Facebook.  Statistics like these make me very irritated.  Facebook wasn’t meant to be a website where you could insult a person but hide behind a computer screen.  The September 2009 AP-MTV Study (can be found at http://www.athinline.org/MTV-AP_Digital_Abuse_Study_Executive_Summary.pdf) found that middle-school cyberbullying victims are more apt to commit suicide.  The survey found that 8% of cyberbulllying victims have considered ending their own life compared to 3% of people who have not been bullied.  Sites like Facebook shouldn’t be used to hurt others; if that was the point, it would be called social harassing, not social networking.  Cyberbullying is something that most people might just brush off.  They might say, “Oh, it’s just the Internet, it doesn’t mean a thing,” or, “Just ignore it.”  Easier said than done, right?  Word hurt, whether said in person or through a mean message.  When you’re angry with a friend, refrain from writing a mean status directed towards them, or don’t send that message full of rude and unnecessary words.  Watch what you say.  Words are words, and words hurt.

Much love,
-Sam

Dec 4 2011

Yesterday was National Coming Out Day.  To all those who chose to do so, congratulations!  The thought of this makes me think of an article I read in People Magazine last week about bullying.  The article consisted of four mini features about parents who had lost a child to suicide because they were bullied for being gay.  Now, while I am happy that the magazine is attempting to publicize the situation and increase awareness, it is sad that this is just now being brought up.  17 people commit suicide because of bullying every single day.  Why aren’t more articles like this being released?  Kids should be aware of these statistics; maybe then they’d be less likely to victimize others.

I hope that all those who did choose to come out had a pleasant and safe experience.  It’d be amazing if one day, we could get the suicide rate down from 17 a day to 0.

Dec 4 2011

Every day I wake up and groan over the fact that it’s 5:45 A.M., which is obviously too early of a time to be awake.  I get cranky over the fact that I’ve got school in an hour and a half.  It’s too quiet in the house with both of my parents both still asleep.  But you know what I don’t think about?  I don’t even realize how lucky I truly am.  I’ve got two parents who are still together, I’ve got food to eat for breakfast, and clothes to wear.  There are so many people out there who have it worse and can’t say the same.  It pains me when I see my friends, or even just strangers, dealing with hardships.  It hurts me when some of my best friends still struggle with depression and self-harm.  It simply makes me want to appreciate what I have and reach out to others.  I see all of this anonymous hate on Tumblr and Formspring and it makes me want to reach out and be there for the person who is receiving those unkind words.  It also just makes me want to stop and tell the person saying the words, “Hey, do you realize that what you say really affects this person?”  All in all, I want to be there for someone.  It doesn’t have to be someone I’m close with, it can be anybody and everybody.  I want people to know that I’m there for them, and I can lend an ear when they need one.  There are many things that I cannot relate to, but I can be here with open arms when they need to talk about them.

I’m a friend to others because I know that when I was depressed, that’s all I could have ever wanted.

-Sam

Dec 4 2011

Hi, I’m Sam.
Music is what keeps me going and is the reason I’m still here today.  I chose to join Open Our Eyes so I could help make a difference and save at least one life while I’m at it.  Music is important to me because just one song or artist can affect someone so strongly.  Whether it be that one song that always makes you want to dance, or the one that makes you feel better when all you want to do is cry, music can help.  I strongly believe that music can save lives.
I believe that community is important because I am always there for others and I expect others to do the same for me.  It’s easy to be a friend and it’s easy to lend a listening ear.