Dear Editor: High school is tough for everyone, and everyone has a different way to cope with issues that goes on. For me it was self-injury. When I was in school I was deeply depressed and I cried all in time. I ran from school a couple times off campus and school resource officer Robert Byrd was forced to handcuff me. Then once he had to chased me through the halls because I was having a severe panic attack (which I didn’t know at the time.
Every time I was upset, I would go to Officer Byrd and we would talk. Well, mostly he would talk because I was too depressed and scared to. He knew when I was trying to get out of talking by making up excuses, and in a difficult situation he would always say, ”Hayley, That’s a cop-out answer. The ball is in your court; it’s your choice. What do you want to do?”
Then, I didn’t really think about that too much, but now that I’m not at school I see that I made some terrible decisions in the time I was in school. The last time I saw Officer Byrd was when he told my mom to take me to the hospital because I was trying to kick her window out. If officer Byrd hadn’t done this, I honestly wouldn’t be here right now. I am so grateful for everything that he has ever done for me.
Because of him I finally found out that I have some mental problems, and I am currently in therapy. I am so grateful for him. Without Officer Byrd at LaGrange High, I honestly don’t know where I’d be. He helped me to see that self-injury is not the way to go to cope with your feelings, and he was always fair and a great listener.
I am saddened to hear of him leaving but I am greatful for the time I had to see him. I look up to Officer Byrd. I just wanted to say, Officer Byrd you are my hero. Thank you for everything and stay safe. Hayley Timmons Johnson Street, LaGrange
(LaGrange police officer Robert Byrd is leaving for a yearlong deployment to Iraq with the Georgia National Guard. He intends to return to his assignment at LaGrange High School when he returns. – Editor)
Whole family loves Officer Byrd
Dear Editor:
I would like to thank Robert Byrd for being such a great school resource officer, and a great guy all the way around. Officer Byrd is caring, patient and compassionate, and looks after everyone.
He took time out of his schedule to actually sit and talk to my daughter and believe what she was saying, unlike everyone else. The day he told me that I should get her some help, I sought a psychiatrist. She was diagnosed with severe panic attacks, OCD, ADD … the list goes on. My daughter is a cutter, and he is the only one who said she wasn’t suicidal and she was telling me the truth.
Whenever she had a problem she always went right to him. It’s been a couple of years since he had to chase her round the halls and get her out of the bathroom stall crying. When she was in school, she tried to kill herself many times.
Our whole family loves Officer Byrd because he gave my daughter what no one else could – her life back. She is now in therapy.
From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank you and wish you a safe trip and a speedy return.
Teresa Hughes
Johnson Street, LaGrange
Post a Comment
