Fun in the Sun

Approximately a month of summer break has passed. I can't say that it's been an eventful one, but it's been nice. I've spent a lot of time indoors despite the beautiful the weather. I've written -or rather, started- a flurry of blogposts. For some reason, I cannot summon the energy, nor the right words, to complete any of my blogposts entirely. I haven't went outside on many occasions, but between my vacation in Banff and my occasional relaxing strolls, I have nonetheless enjoyed the weather. I love the sun and the warmth, though it has made me more lethargic than usual. Happily, my self-confinement has also kindled a desire to go outside, hence my nightly strolls. Because one of my friends is off in Europe for the whole break, I have really only been left with one good friend to hang out with. Unfortunately, my friend's tremendously busy schedule of baseball practice, has made it nearly impossible for us to see each other.

Until this week that is. This is the week that my friend is free from baseball! She managed to qualify for the provincial championships, and in preparation, her coach was kind enough to give the team a week off before the big touranament. Being my best friend, she decided to spend that week with me! After calling me, the two of us agreed on meeting at the pool and going for a swim. I very much enjoy tanning myself to a crisp as well, so being the scorching day that it was, I was sure that our meeting would be wonderful. And it was.

We were eating, drinking, swimming, tanning, and being merry. That is, until my friend brought up an extremely depressing topic.

My friend and I met in grade eight on a sunny day in April. We went to the same school, but didn't have any classes together. One day, when I had come to school with a relatively stuffed school bag, some children came to ask me what I had in it. I responded that I had a flight scheduled for Hawai'i that evening, which meant that I had to bring my luggage to school and go straight to the airport afterwards. With this in mind, about seven of my peers offered to actually take me to the airport, she was one of them. Obviously, I accepted their kind offer. And in that short trip to the airport, actually formed a good bond with her. Two years later, and we're still great friends! But that's beside the point.
So, what was this extremely depressing topic? Teen pregnancy.
In grade 8, I went to a school filled with problematic teens. Blow jobs were happening in the change rooms between classes, and marijuana was a normal part of existence. As you may have concluded, it wasn't the best school for expanding your horizons academically. Now, I had been accepted to a handful of other schools and gifted programs over the city, but because the majority of my classmates were headed over to this school, I followed.
Realizing that it was a mistake, I quickly applied, and after getting accepted, transferred schools. Initially, it was hard for me to leave my friends, but my new school suited me a lot better. The people there were a lot more similar in personality to me.
Incredibly, the events which I witnessed while attending the school were nowhere near the events which would reveal themselves in the two years after my leaving.
One year after I left, a girl from my grade gave birth to a baby. A boy from my grade is the father. The girl, well that was expected, but the boy, not so much. Let me put it into perspective: I'm 16. To have a child at the age of 15, and refuse to abort it because you are "in love", well that's just beyond me.
I can't possibly fathom taking care of a baby at this age. I feel bad and careless at the same time for these two kids. Moreover, I feel icky that this was no "one-off".
No. In the past two years since I left, at least seven girls have gotten pregnant. One has given birth, another is expecting, and the rest have aborted. Most know who the father is, a few don't. And honestly, I'm almost at a loss for words. I'm not quite sure how to describe the dramatic change which has occurred at my old school. Moreover, I don't know how to feel.
I contemplate what would have happened had I stayed at my old school. How bad would it actually be?
I thank my friend for keeping me informed, but I feel confused.