Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, my roommate and I make our journey to campus in her ’98 Chevy Malibu for our dreaded 8 ams. Listening to The Kane show on Baltimore’s 104.3 radio station make it a bit more bearable.
On the morning of Thursday, Oct. 28th I heard some news on The Kane Show that resonated with me for the rest of day.
Sam Sarpong, an actor who co-hosted Wilmer Valderrama’s MTV reality show "Yo Momma" (a show I used to watch religiously in my youth) killed himself on Monday, Oct. 26th.
He jumped off the Pasadena bridge.
He was only 40 years old.
Nobody knows why he did it.
A story like many others who have passed from a similar tragedy.
Kurt Cobain, Judy Garland, Sid Vicious, Robin Williams and so many other individuals who were in the public eye have all died from suicide.
And so many others, just like you and me, have died from suicide as well.
It’s heartbreaking.
I have a relationship with suicide. I won't explain how or why, because that is for another article, but this hit me hard.
Why do I care so much about a man I didn’t even know?
A man who graced my television screen from time to time.
Suicide is tricky.
It’s hard for people on the other side to understand why people chose to end their lives. Nobody sees it coming. It’s not like cancer, or a car accident, or murder where we can make sense of someone being taken before his or her time is up.
And, the worst of it all is…we can’t ask the person why they did it. Nor can we prevent what has already happened.
Yeah, there can be signs…but sometimes there are not and it’s seems as though we can only pick up on them when it is too late.
I don’t know what else I can say about this subject.
I don’t know what else anybody can say about this subject.
I hope Sam Sarpong is in a better place, with less pain, and I hope his family and those close to him can cope to the best of their abilities, as well as bring understanding to this tragedy.
But, if you are feeling lost…know you’re not alone.
You’ve heard this before…we all have, but I wholeheartedly believe it gets better. No matter the circumstance. Life is better when it is with the living.
If you or someone you know is struggling please call the
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline : 1-800-273-8255.
