"Speak"

Imagine going down the senior hall of your very first day of high school. All of the freaky seniors glaring at you as you trot by. Besides the fact that the seniors are looking at you, you gently tip your head forward while moving down the hall, so you couldn’t feel that they’re staring at you. Your heart is racing so fast that you feel like you have an adrenaline rush. Your heart is pounding nonstop. In this story “Speak,” Laurie Halse Anderson shows that if you’re depressed about something, there’s always something you gain from depression that something good will come out of depression.

When you’re in depression there is always something good happening to you even though that you are depressed about something. Even though Melinda lost all of her friends she found a new friend that liked her for who she was. After a while Heather finally learned more about Melinda and how she acted and didn’t really like the fact that she is so negative with everything. So, Heather found new friends that were more popular and cooler than Melinda. Honestly, popularity just comes naturally to you. You shouldn’t have to work to be in the “cool group.” If she has to do something that may get her in trouble they’re just not nice people. She may think she is doing something really cool but she isn’t. It’s just completely stupid to try something that may get you kicked out of the school district. Seeing that Melinda lost another friend she also found a really nice guy that she likes. This is an example of another outcome that happened to her throughout the story.

Another flaw throughout Melinda’s life is the lack of respect, support, recognition from her parents. She feels so unloved that she thinks “hiding in her closet” will solve all of her problems. But eventually they will come back to her. She is hiding her emotions from reality of life. It’s hard to open up to someone after you have gotten hurt. But that’s one of the most important things Melinda should do with her parents. Open up to them, talk to her parents about her problems; they can help you get through the hard times you have in life. Throughout Melinda’s whole life she has been dealing with the lack of parenting. When her dad comes home he never speaks to her. Even worse doesn’t even know that Melinda is home. Melinda never gets a “hey, what’s up” “hi” from her parents.

Laurie Halse Anderson the author of “Speak” shows that if you’re depressed about something, there’s always something you gain from depression and something good will come out of depression. Melinda should really open up to her parents. Ask them for some advice and how to handle things that are difficult. They will help you. You’re not alone in your closet all the time hiding your emotions. You should express your feelings to someone.