Everybody loves the color purple, but on February 11th, purple took on a whole new meaning. The halls of FPM were decked out in purple decorations, and inspirational messages were on every locker and every wall. Students helped blow up balloons and raise money, and many dressed in purple as well. This was all done to celebrate P.S. I Love You Day, a day to bring awareness to bullying, depression and suicide.

This tradition was started by Brooke DiPalma, who was inspired by the events that occurred on April 23, 2010. Brooke was driven to school by her father, Joseph, who said “I love you” as she left the car. She said “I love you back” and thought nothing of it, until she was taken out of school a few hours later, being informed that her father had died by suicide. A second suicide in the community, this time by a high school senior, added to the motivation for Brooke to start P.S. I Love You Day.

In the U.S., there are about 130 suicides a day, with suicide being the 10th leading cause of death. There are many factors that can cause a person to take their own life, but people like Brooke are trying to prevent future losses. On P.S. I Love You Day, many schools decorate and try to spread positive messages, informing children about suicide. Some people raise money and others spread kindness, but no matter what you do, the main message is clear: you are never alone.