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Photo by Bev Horne of the Daily Herald
A Message of Hope
May 7, 2011
By Bev Horne and Ray Moffitt
Among the various issues covered by the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe at a
statewide high school convention at the Westin Hotel in Lombard, Illinois on
May 6, 2011 was teen depression and the options for dealing with it.
Troupe member Sarah Saltiel, who lives in Willowbrook but attends Hinsdale
Central High School, is shown discussing the situation involving Dylan
Wagner, who was 15 and a freshman at Batavia High School when he took his
life in April of 2010. A portrait of Dylan is shown to the right of Sarah.
Interwoven with Sarah's commentary was the country ballad 'Why' by Rascal
Flatts sung by troupe members Alex Oechsel of Naperville and Wynd Ridenour
of Yorkville.
In the preparation for this piece, Sarah and several other MWAH! troupe
members met with Dylan's father and older sister in the Batavia church where
Dylan was a member of a youth group.
Dylan's sister, Kassi Wagner, wanted other teenagers to realize that sad
moments and 'dark thoughts' do not last forever - that those having those
thoughts need to hold on and try to talk to someone who will listen.
Dylan's sister asked the troupe members to make it clear to their audiences
that asking for help is a sign of strength - not a weakness.
Kassi Wagner had participated with the troupe at two all-school assemblies
for high school and junior high students at Princeton High School in
Princeton, Illinois in Bureau County on April 11, 2011.
About 900 high school students and their advisors from throughout Illinois
participated in the convention in Lombard, sponsored by the Illinois
Association of Student Councils.
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