The movie summary is this: Two young boys are best friends growing up, and one day, while walking down their road, one of them, Jake, is about to be hit by a car, when the other, Roger, heroically pushes him out of the way and takes his place. Roger is left with a crippled leg, and a limp, while Jake goes on to be soccer star as a kid, then big shot basketball star in high school. He starts to blow off Roger for parties and his girlfriend Amy, in their freshman year of high school. Fast forward to senior year. Roger and Jake don't ever talk. Jake never ever stands up for Roger when he sees people picking on Roger, for the very act that caused Roger to be crippled. The very act that saved his life. Roger comes to school with a gun. Shoots 3 holes in the ceiling. Jake goes to him and tries to talk to him. Roger shoots himself... Jake goes to the funeral. The pastor notices him, and comes up to him after Jake wins the last basketball game of the season. Gives him his card. Jake goes to party with his girlfriend. Gets drunk. Cops come. His girlfriend steals his truck. His friends ditch him, and he calls the pastor Chris for a ride. The next morning, he goes to church, and joins in Chris' youth group. Jake begins to change. Amy leaves him, saying he's "acting weird." Meanwhile, he is saved, and baptized, with his big youth group, full of friends nearby. They sit together at lunch, hang out, and become close. He makes good friends with a guy named Jonny, who cuts himself, and was close to Roger before he passed. Then, his parents, with their unstable relationship, decide to get a divorce. Amy tells him she is pregnant, and plans to abort the baby. He goes to Chris to talk, and the preacher of the church's son, (who also smokes marijuana) overhears. He spreads the rumors all over school. Jake becomes angry at God, and his youth friends, and blows off Jonny. He starts to realize he made mistakes, and talks Amy out of the abortion. They both begin to go to church, and decide on an open adoption with a couple that Chris recommends. The youth group begins to come together to support him, and his mom, at peace after the divorce, supports his decision to wait until the baby is born to go to his dream school, University of Louisville. Jonny won't answer calls, or texts, or anyone coming to his house. The head preacher's son bumps into him at school one day, and Jonny drops his phone. The kid picks it up, and makes a call to the police, saying there is a bomb threat. When police arrive all the kids are escorted out of the building, and the kid shows them pictures in Jonny's locker that Jonny drew, twisting their opinion to think that Jonny did it. Jake sees that Jonny is back at school as the cops are taking him away. He calls Jonny's phone and the head preacher's son answers it. Jake risks it all to run after the cop car, and prove that Jonny is innocent. He gets to it, just in time, as Jonny was about to overdose in the back of the car. Jake goes to the police station, where they took the kid responsible in. The kid who judged him, tried to ruin his girlfriend, and messed with his friends' heads. He sits with him, and talks to him. Talks Jesus to him, until his dad comes. The baby is born, and given to the couple in an open adoption. Jonny comes to Jesus, as well as the preacher's son, who before, was just wearing a "mask", acting like a Christian. Amy comes to Jesus as well, and Jake finally reconciles with his dad, as he heads to the University of Louisville.
Because of Roger's death, Jake learned a lot, and changed a lot. And many peoples lives' were affected and changed by these changes. Like a ripple effect.
There is song by The Fray called "How To Save A Life"
Here are some lyrics.
"Step one, you say we need to talk.
He walks, you say sit down it's just a talk...
And I pray to God he hears you.
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend,
Somewhere along in the bitterness,
And I would have stayed up with you all night,
Had I known how to save a life."
How many times have we judged somebody? How many times have we looked at someone and gone, "Nope, not talking to them." Or made fun of someone for no reason, other than to make ourselves feel better. Or, SAW someone get picked one, HEARD them get made fun of, and done nothing?
How many times have we heard or seen in someone's eyes, them crying, calling out for help, and we didn't do anything?...
How many friends of ours have gotten "good" at hiding how they really feel?
I have a friend. Not saying names. But I can tell their story.
They were bullied. Picked on. Hurt by people they didn't even know, for reasons also unknown. Just. Because. They. Could. This person's self-esteem was virtually destroyed. Why? So these people would feel better about themselves. I doubt they even remember my friend. They don't know the effects I still see. I would have transfered schools for this person. Stood up for them. Walked with them to every single class. If I'd have only known. But I didn't. I didn't ask. I didn't notice the signs. Didn't know they were depressed. They're getting better. I see more smiles everyday... I just wonder if I couldn't have helped them sooner. Saved them from the damage.
Didn't know any of this!
- An estimated 80% of all those who commit suicide give some warning of their intentions or mention their feelings to a friend or family member.
- 70% of suicides occur between the hours of 3 p.m. to midnight (when they could be saved).
- For every completed suicide there are an estimated 30 to 50 attempts.
- About 20 percent of teens will experience teen depression before they reach adulthood.
- Most teens with depression will suffer from more than one episode. 20 to 40 percent will have more than one episode within two years, and 70 percent will have more than one episode before adulthood. Episodes of teen depression generally last about 8 months.
What to look for:
- sadness or hopelessness
- irritability, anger, hostility
- tearfulness or frequent crying
- withdrawal from friends or family
- loss of interest in activites
- changes in eating and sleeping habits
- restlessness and agitation
- feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- lack of enthusiasm or motivation
- fatigue or lack of energy
- difficulty concentrating
- thoughts of death or suicide
National Hopeline Network: 1-800-784-2433 (1-800-SUICIDE)
National Suicide Prevention Helpline: 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK)
My number: 972-825-6276
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