LUMBERTON — Students at Lumberton Junior High kicked off the third week of school with an assembly on the importance of good decisions.

The words “consequence” and “good decisions” were said numerous times as the school marked Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Week, which honors a young man who took his life in 1994. As school staff members read the story of how Mike Emme’s life was cut short, students and staff members wiped away tears.

To bring awareness to this issue, Lumberton Mayor Raymond Pennington signed a proclamation naming this week as Yellow Ribbon Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention Week in Lumberton. As Councilmen Robert Jones read the proclamation, hundreds of students listened intently. Eighth-grader Janiya Worley said the program was needed because she has had some friends who thought about suicide.

“I thought it was very inspirational to know that if, you feel like doing it, then there is help. And if you see people coming from your same community and struggle, you know that there is a way to make it and it is possible,” Worley said.

Lumberton Police Chief Michael McNeill and more than half a dozen of his officers spoke to the students about consequences and decisions. The officers also let the students know that they were once like them and they are available for them should the students need them.

Detective Lee Hinson told the students good decisions are not always easy or popular with friends.

“You have some good people here in the school staff. They haven’t always made the best decisions. But some good decisions helped them to be here today. I see the pressures students deal with. I see the pressures with social media. Make the good decisions to talk to your teacher or your principal,” Hinson said.

One student, Laegan Pittman, recognized Lt. Harold Jackson from the community.

“Seeing him made me feel good. It was nice of all the officers to be out here to show support for our school and for anyone who might think about this,” she said.

Felecia Hunt and Terran Jackson coordinated the week-long event. Each day, students will hear from different speakers.

“We wanted to arrange proactive activities in order to create awareness of crisis intervention methods for students,” Hunt said. “We want students to know that they have someone to reach out to for help. Adolescents face a lot of challenges in school, and we want to give them the necessary support to succeed.”

Detective Al Collins told the students he was born and raised here and attended Lumberton Junior High just like them. He talked about positive mental attitude.

“Negative people can’t hang around with positive. Anything negative is not going to help you grow. If you want to be good at sports, a rapper, a dancer or whatever your dream, keep a positive mental attitude,” he said. “When you have a negative mental attitude, you migrate to negative people.”

Courtesy photo | City Councilman Robert Jones reads a proclamation during a Yellow Ribbon event at Lumberton Junior High. The proclamation proclaims Sept. 6 to 12 Yellow Ribbon Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention Week in the City of Lumberton. Several Lumberton Police Department Officers spoke to the students about asking for help and making good decisions.
https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_DSC_0036.jpgCourtesy photo | City Councilman Robert Jones reads a proclamation during a Yellow Ribbon event at Lumberton Junior High. The proclamation proclaims Sept. 6 to 12 Yellow Ribbon Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention Week in the City of Lumberton. Several Lumberton Police Department Officers spoke to the students about asking for help and making good decisions.

Tasha Oxendine

Tasha Oxendine is the public information officer for the Public Schools of Robeson County.