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Dear Ann Landers,
cheer- leading, drill team, student council and sports. I was elected to the homecoming court. My home life is fine. I have two successful, loving parents. Outside of school, I was involved with a church youth group, taught Sunday school and have done some professional dancing. I entered my freshman year majoring in biology-premedicine and later that year pledged a sorority. I've never been short of fun or friends, and am the most cheerful, friendly, outgoing person you could know. Because of my bright smile and love of making people laugh, you'd never guess that I want to die. I don't know when I first became obsessed with dying, but every night, I lie awake in my bed and beg God for cancer or some other ter-minal illness. The way I see it, I've had the best of everything and I want to die young with all the chips in my comer. Please understand that I'm not suicidal. I would never kill myself. I just wish something would kill me. I've mentioned this to a couple of close friends and they can't under-stand why I feel this way. What's wrong with me, Ann? Why is it that I want more than any-thing to die, when I have had it all? I know very well that if I put my name and city on this letter, my phone will be ringing off the hook, so I'll just sign myself -Death Wish Sophomore Who Needs Some Answers
Dear Sophomore,
Because you already have stated that you know something is wrong with you, I won't belabor the point. You need to find out exactly what is causing you to harbor such bizarre thoughts. Every campus has counselors. I urge you to discuss your secret long-ing with a professional. I don't want to get dramatic, but a wish can suddenly turn out to be the father of the deed.