Lisset+A’s+Final+AmEx+2014+Speech

=Title of Speech=

Artificial happiness
=Text of Speech= I've been thinking about this speech for the longest time now and even still I’m confused. To think that I’ve actually been given the liberty to talk about anything, to talk about anything I care about. We've been given guidelines to follow this whole year and I know that when we were first assigned this speech most of us were dumbfounded on what to talk about, even the day before the presentation (or even while presenting it). And when we finally think of a topic we think of another one, then another; then we’re dumbfounded on which topic to pick Even as I stand before you know I’m not confused on what to talk about, but what I care about the most. In all honesty I wish I could talk about more than one change I want to see in America. I know I could have talked about more, but then this speech would be more confusing and all over the place. At first I wanted to talk about bullying and suicide, but trying to avoid the pessimist in me I decided I wanted mostly to talk about health concerns. About all the toxins we are putting on and into ourselves without even thinking twice about it; about the cancer in a bottle lotions and shampoos. I wanted to talk about how America is becoming lazier and fatter and that we all need a Thoreau break to regain some of our lost creativity. I wanted to talk about the underestimated poison of sugar and all the problems and diseases it leads to; hence “underestimated.” I wanted to talk about Night at the Museum. But it didn’t feel right; there was something missing. Obviously I care about a lot of things. But mostly I care about people; not just about their physical health but also their mental health. We’ve all heard that saying, “sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me.” Frankly, while sticks and stones can break bones I think words can hurt, possibly even more so. If words didn't hurt then no one would be offended. If words didn’t hurt then people wouldn’t be lying when they say they don’t care. If words didn’t hurt then there would be fewer suicides. Bullying can be all verbal, and sadly with some cases of physical abuse. Often times it’s not one giant attack, but the little things building up. When I was in the seventh grade most of my bullying and harassment was verbal, and still I thought the same about suicide, still I thought the same about drugs to forget it all. I’m glad I didn't get into it all as much as I wanted to back then, even last and this year. My mom’s boss thought she couldn't live without this one man in her life. She was convinced that they were meant to be together. He was the rudest, most stubborn, selfish, lazy, awful guy, yet she had to be with him. She bought his love; he loved her money, not her, and she knew it. She changed her body for him and gave him everything. We all knew that on the inside she was miserable, that’s why she took an obsessive amount of drugs and alcohol to forget the pain she was burning with on the inside. He never physically hit her, it was all verbal abuse. All she had to do was run away from him; she had all the money and the power to do it, but somehow, I think, she was afraid of him, but still convinced they were meant to be together. One day my mom picked me up from school, I don’t remember where we were going but I remember her saying everything was going to be alright. I asked if, the lady, had died and she said yes. I remember being surprised and shocked, but not as much as I would have been if I hadn’t been expecting it. At that time my dad had already lost his job of 19 years and now my mom was slowly losing hers. To think all this happened a year or two ago. I remember wanting to get away from all the problems. It scares me to think I could have ruined my life with drugs and cutting. It angers me how selfish I was. I’ve seen a mom so worried about her granddaughter because of all the problems she’s gotten into; it scares me to think that that could have been me. This lady has so many other problems and her granddaughter is making it worse; it scares me to think that I could have done that to my family. Even as I look back to the seventh and eighth grade I can’t believe suicide and drugs were my mentality. It angers me how selfish was trying to cover up my problems, lying to my mom that everything was okay, instead of trying to help out my family and telling them what was wrong because I knew they wanted to help. How selfish it was of me only thinking how I could help myself. While I still bottle everything up at least I know I will always have someone to talk to, and I wish to see more people realize that they will always have someone too. This Lady's nephew did end up committing suicide at 25 because he felt so alone in this world, that could have been a life saved. Recently I heard a dear friend of mine has actually gotten into drugs; well, more than usual. And it made me realize that he had been changing over the years. I was associated with his friends and those types of people and I know if I had gone to his school I’d probably be doing the same Ludicrous drugs he’s probably doing right now instead of being at school. I see some of my old friends and think wow; I used to be their friend? Sometimes I was pulled into their stupid acts but they never really accepted me, as much as I wanted to be, or want to be, there friend I know it’s for the better to not be associated with them. It scares me to think of all the possibilities that could have happened because of my selfishness. My dad's coworker has to support his son of 24 because he screwed up with drugs and alcohol, and I don't want to be that child. In the America I hope to grow old in I want to see fewer teenagers, even adults, seek artificial happiness, an artificial escape. I want to see more people look for real help when struggling with abuse. I want to see less abuse in general. I want to see fewer people curious about drugs. 50% of teen deaths are suicides; half of them could have been saved. I want to see fewer suicides. I want to see less cutting. I want to see more support; and less selfishness. I want to see fewer friends saying “Do what you want,” and more friends saying, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I want to see fewer students afraid of going to school. I want to see less fear. So after writing two speeches, much confusion, and listening to my favorite song a gazillion times, the pessimist in me won after all. We live in a great nation with amazing potential, and I want to see it used to its fullest.

=Cite Your Sources= My experiences