Sharing our Stories

Participating in the Save the Teens grief group was one of the most beneficial decisions I have made. The support was comforting and allowed me to move through the grieving process very quickly. Seeing other teens going through similar situations made me feel like I wasn’t alone in my grieving. Being able to share stories and advice with each other was my favorite part. The meetings were a place where we could all laugh, cry, yell, etc. and not feel like a burden to everyone because we were all knew each other’s pain.

The group I participated in started about a month after my dad passed away. The shock was still fresh, and I was still in denial. I remember being so quiet on the first day because I didn’t know anyone in my group (that did not last long). As we went around the table and introduced ourselves to the group, I was shocked at how many people were feeling the same things I was. I passed some of them in the hallway every day, and I even noticed how much they were hurting. Throughout the group, we developed a bond that was like no other. It really cannot be described in words. It was more than support.

I learned so much from my peers in the group, more than just how to cope with the death of a loved one, but how to support someone through anything. My group showed me how important every little moment is. I learned to cherish the small things in life, forgive people for their mistakes, and ,most importantly, to share your feelings with others. You don’t know what the future holds and how long you will have with someone.

I cannot explain how grateful I am for my experience with Save the Teens. Throughout my grieving, I have gained life-long friends, as well as, skills and knowledge I will use throughout life. I encourage any teen going through a hard time to look into support groups.