-Traveling is a great experience, even though I haven’t gone too far from my hometown.

-I will soon be traveling to Mexico where I will get to experience first hand what travel is really about.

-I haven’t had the full effect of a traveling experience , but soon it will definately happen.

Chelsea Swenson

Steve Dalager

College Comp.

11/26/07

Race

There was once a boy in my class named Chris Turner. He was darker skinned, but he wasn’t black. I think he may have been Native American. He was classified as one of the more nerdy or outcastish kids in my grade.

He was adopted by one of our special education teachers, Mr. Spearman. He seemed like he was a happy kid, from what I remember, when he was among his friends anyways. I guess looks can be deceiving sometimes.

He started coming to our school sometime in elementary. I’m really not sure when. Maybe in second or third grade? Anyways, he seemed like a smart kid that didn’t try his best. You know the type I’m sure.

I didn’t really pay close attention to him. I mean I had to be his partner once in my 7^th grade English class, but other than that I didn’t really ever talk to him. I guess he was teased just like all his other friends were. He was teased by the boys that played sports and thought they were all big and bad by picking on people that weren’t like them.

In the summer’s of elementary and middle school, I didn’t really hang out with anyone from my grade because they all lived so far out of town. I would hang out with my cousin Jennah and my friend Taylor. They are both a year younger than me, but I am young for my class so we are about the same age. I would bum with these girls all summer long. We would walk, rollerblade, or bike around town like everyday. We would stop to visit friends that worked at places, or just go swimming at Taylor’s house all day. One summer day, before 8^th or 9^th grade, I was chillin’ at my house and the phone rang. I answered it, and I figured it would be Jennah or Taylor wanting to hang out or something, but it wasn’t. “Hello?” I said. “Hey Chelsea It’s Abby.” “Ohhh hey! I haven’t talked to you in forever!!! What’s up?” “Umm..well nothing really, but I just thought I should tell you that Chris Turner died.” I was like, “What?”, like maybe I had heard her wrong or something. “Chris Turner is dead, he died.” she repeated. “Nuh-ah you’re joking right?” “No.” “Oh my god..how did he die?” “He hung himself.” “Are you serious?” “Yeah. The funeral is Tuesday, and I just thought I would tell you.” “Yeah thanks. Bye.”

It was the most shocking phone call I have ever received in my life. I wasn’t even expecting a call from Abby let alone her telling me a classmate hung himself. I remember having pictures of him run through my mind after I got off the phone. Like him walking in the hall or just sitting in his desk. It was really weird.

Even though this story doesn’t really have a strong relation to race, Chris Turner was teased, but probably not because of his race. There aren’t really racist people at our school so. He died because he probably couldn’t take the bullying and teasing anymore. I’m sure that isn’t the only reason, but who will ever know. No one knows why he did it. No one except himself and god. I think it is good that our class has planted a tree for him and we are going to dedicate our yearbook to him.

R.I.P Chris Turner.