Drown | Teen Ink
  1. Home
  2. Hot Topics
  3. Bullying
  4. Drown

Drown MAG

January 19, 2012
By Mantequilla SILVER, Eagan, Minnesota
More by this author
Mantequilla SILVER, Eagan, Minnesota
8 articles 0 photos 79 comments
View profile

Do you know what a drowning person looks like? I can tell you – it's not flailing and screaming. The person goes down slowly and quietly. He flails, but not visibly. Then he slowly slips under.

The truth is, people drown every day, and not just in water. First comes the stress. Homework, relationships, work, changes. It weakens them little by little. Then someone makes fun of them, sneers at them for no reason, tells them they'd be better off dead. Dead. They sink lower. They start reaching out for something to grab. But then they start to consider it. If they really did die, who would cry? Who would even notice? Who would miss them? What have they done that people would remember? These thoughts lead to depression, and they go completely under. All the stress hurts them. Damages them. And their mind focuses on one line of thinking. I don't matter. Everyone hates me. I can't do anything good.

A captain on a snorkeling ship has to watch. It's his job to check and see that everybody's okay. He can recognize the signs that someone is drowning. What about you? Look around. Do you notice someone who seems to be struggling? Reach out and give her a hand. Or are you embarrassed to associate with people who are not in your “crowd”? Do you think the captain would let someone die because he was afraid to get his clothes wet? No. But the real question is …

Would you?

The author's comments:
This was inspired after reading drowning signs from a Reader's Digest. I knew them before, but the connection from drowning to real life came from...probably somewhere. But that's besides the point. I hope people choose to leave their bubble and look for drowning people.
Post a comment
Submit your own

Similar Articles

Previous Next
Hot Topics
Good-bye bullies, Hello life and love.
By Anonymous
Hot Topics
Words Hurt the Most
By CourtneyC5787 PLATINUM
Lehi, Utah
CourtneyC5787 PLATINUM, Lehi, Utah
24 articles 11 photos 0 comments

Favorite Quote:
"What doesnt kill you only makes you stronger."

View profile
Hot Topics
Stand Up
By Bluekit GOLD
Rockton, Illinois
Bluekit GOLD, Rockton, Illinois
12 articles 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Unicorns and glitter!" -Flo

View profile
Hot Topics
Bullying affects people, it honestly really hurts.
By JustPaperAndPencil BRONZE
Milford, Ohio
JustPaperAndPencil BRONZE, Milford, Ohio
4 articles 0 photos 32 comments

Favorite Quote:
The saddest thing in the world, is loving someone who used to love you.

View profile
Hot Topics
Sinking Ship
By Seaheart GOLD
Chicago, Illinois
Seaheart GOLD, Chicago, Illinois
13 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
A pen is a sword that has a shield of paper and an armor of words

View profile
Hot Topics
Why Bully?
By Rebecca Schoolcraft SILVER
Lyndonviile, New York
Rebecca Schoolcraft SILVER, Lyndonviile, New York
5 articles 0 photos 0 comments
View profile

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 24 comments.

Arti.M BRONZE said...
on Feb. 23 2017 at 4:48 pm
Arti.M BRONZE, Tirana, Other
4 articles 0 photos 46 comments
View profile
Fantastic story and it is very true.
A.Qisblackwidow said...
on Sep. 14 2015 at 3:57 pm
A.Qisblackwidow, Torrance, California
0 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It takes courage to become who you really are" e.e cummings

View profile
Wow. This was really great. I loved it.
Scribbler16 BRONZE said...
on May. 27 2015 at 4:13 pm
Scribbler16 BRONZE, Hartland, WI, Wisconsin
1 article 0 photos 6 comments
View profile
Amazing, I love this. I hope you can write more!! :D
Benjamin Halperin said...
on Apr. 13 2015 at 10:40 am
Benjamin Halperin, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
View profile
This is a great story that is very true.
TanviKusum DIAMOND said...
on Feb. 15 2014 at 2:23 pm
TanviKusum DIAMOND, Gurgaon, Other
89 articles 4 photos 197 comments

Favorite Quote:
All men who have achieved great things have been great dreamers. <br /> Orison Swett Marden<br /> <br /> &quot;The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say.&quot; - Anais Nin<br /> <br /> we speak in hushed voices so as to not wake our memories

View profile
This is absolutely true. Sometimes you feel all alone even when there are people around you, it's always a good idea to make people around you feel that they are important because in this world we slowly forget what we are living for.
SmileySami said...
on Sep. 16 2013 at 5:46 pm
This is amazing! You are a very talented writer!
Lost_In_Space BRONZE said...
on Jul. 26 2013 at 12:37 am
Lost_In_Space BRONZE, Mt. Prospect, Illinois
3 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.&quot;<br /> -Albert Einstein

View profile
This is a ver good way of descriping stress, and slowly sinking under, I think that this piece of writing, might just save some lives
Mantequilla SILVER said...
on May. 15 2013 at 5:17 pm
Mantequilla SILVER, Eagan, Minnesota
8 articles 0 photos 79 comments
View profile
Thank you so much! :)
supertigerMMC GOLD said...
on May. 15 2013 at 1:23 am
supertigerMMC GOLD, Milpitas, California
15 articles 1 photo 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I am leg.&quot; -Jengabin Nankfrlin

View profile
I really like all of your stories, but I'd have to say this is my favorite. I've drowned both ways, but in both situations, I've been able to pull myself out of it, but I can definetely relate to that. Your style is really amazing and keep up the great work!! I'm looking forward to reading more of your stories!!
bookmouse BRONZE said...
on Mar. 15 2013 at 10:14 pm
bookmouse BRONZE, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
1 article 90 photos 251 comments
View profile
Great analogy! I feel like it explains it well. It was well written too! 
laila_265 GOLD said...
on Feb. 26 2013 at 11:30 pm
laila_265 GOLD, Houston, Texas
12 articles 0 photos 34 comments
View profile
This is awesome!! I love the ending- a challenge to everyone. And I like how you began and ended it with literal drowning, but also related it to the other ways that so many people "drown." Very relatable- great job!
Plume BRONZE said...
on Jan. 16 2013 at 12:52 pm
Plume BRONZE, Milano, Other
2 articles 0 photos 31 comments
View profile
this is wonder ful !!!! its so inspiring. keep on writing!!!! pls check out my work it would mean a lot
Patty Blount said...
on Sep. 14 2012 at 12:07 pm
What an amazing post. I hope people read it and see themselves in it. I've long been maintaining that it's the bystanders all anti-bullying programs need to address. 
Mantequilla SILVER said...
on Jul. 15 2012 at 1:34 pm
Mantequilla SILVER, Eagan, Minnesota
8 articles 0 photos 79 comments
View profile
Thanks! And fo shizzle.
Shahiro PLATINUM said...
on Jul. 5 2012 at 4:14 pm
Shahiro PLATINUM, Johnston, Iowa
20 articles 2 photos 262 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Soon we must all choose between what is right and what is easy.&quot; - Dumbledore (Goblet of Fire)

View profile

wow!!!!!! really powerful... way to send messege after messege through one idea!!!!!!!!!

ps. will u please check out my work??????????????????????   =D

Smile-And-Wave-Boys. SILVER said...
on Mar. 3 2012 at 4:31 pm
Smile-And-Wave-Boys. SILVER, Rotherhithe, Other
8 articles 1 photo 38 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Everyone wants to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.&quot; <br /> &mdash; Oprah Winfrey

View profile
Haha, well, thank you I suppose :)
Mantequilla SILVER said...
on Mar. 2 2012 at 9:49 pm
Mantequilla SILVER, Eagan, Minnesota
8 articles 0 photos 79 comments
View profile
I should've figured. Almost every writer I've met has been a girl. Nothing against girls of course. In fact, 9/10 times girls are much more intelligent than boys. That's my 2 cents worth.
Smile-And-Wave-Boys. SILVER said...
on Feb. 27 2012 at 11:48 am
Smile-And-Wave-Boys. SILVER, Rotherhithe, Other
8 articles 1 photo 38 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Everyone wants to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.&quot; <br /> &mdash; Oprah Winfrey

View profile
Haha thanks, and it's a she, but no biggie ;D
Mantequilla SILVER said...
on Feb. 25 2012 at 10:33 pm
Mantequilla SILVER, Eagan, Minnesota
8 articles 0 photos 79 comments
View profile
Thanks Ant. It's cool to get comments from an *AWESOME* writer such as yourself. Thanks for the praise. It makes me feel good. And 'yall should read his(?) stuff. It's really good.
Smile-And-Wave-Boys. SILVER said...
on Feb. 25 2012 at 11:56 am
Smile-And-Wave-Boys. SILVER, Rotherhithe, Other
8 articles 1 photo 38 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Everyone wants to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.&quot; <br /> &mdash; Oprah Winfrey

View profile
Omjeezums, first of all, it's so deep! The way you've linked bullying/depression/suicide to drowning is so clever, and so true. It's actually inspirational-most people who read articles on this matter can't relate, due to it mostly being just facts and information. But you've managed to link it to something real, and for that, I applaud you. Well done, keep writing! :D