Jordan Burnham, Thursday's speaker at Pottsgrove High School.
LOWER POTTSGROVE PA – Teen-age suicide survivor Jordan Burnham of King of Prussia, now a motivational speaker who encourages young people to talk about depression and suicide with their parents and other adults, was a guest speaker Thursday (March 19, 2009) at a series of three Pottsgrove High School assemblies.
Burnham “shared his compelling message,” a “unique story of how depression changed his life,” with students and faculty members during separate assemblies for freshmen, sophomores, and a combined presentation for juniors and seniors, the high school website reported. His address, sponsored by Pottsgrove’s SNAP Academy, served as a break for students from three days of “intensive” state-required academic testing, it said.
District Director of Technology Dr. Kristen Kozloski described Burnham’s message as “very moving.”
The SNAP (Student Needs Assistance Program) Academy is a team of student leaders at the high school who, with teachers, provide guidance and resources to other students, and organize drug- and alcohol-free activities. It receives funding from the district and the Pottstown Area Health And Wellness Foundation.
SNAP said Burnham’s appearance was representing The National Mental Health Awareness Campaign, a nationwide non-partisan public education effort launched in 1999.
Photo from Pottsgrove High School
Editor’s note: This story resulted from tweets received at The Sanatoga Post’s Twitter account. Feel free to follow us on Twitter @jzlomek.
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March 20, 2009 at 5:56 pm
i was wondering.. Jordan came to my school back in Jaunary. And he spoke of a surgery that he was going to have that would enable him to walk again. I was just wondering if you had heard anything of this surgery. For instance if it was a success and he’s walking like normally
March 21, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Hey John this is Jordan. The surgery went great and they actually took out the rod that was in my femur bone. This set me back because I couldn’t put weight on it for 6 weeks but therapy has picked up tremendously now and hopefully I can stretch out to the point that I have the posture to walk. I would say that June is my goal to walk, even if it’s with a cane.
April 8, 2009 at 12:24 pm
[...] Pottsgrove High Hears Motivator Burnham Teen-age suicide survivor Jordan Burnham brought a message of life change to students Thursday at Pottsgrove High School. [...]
May 15, 2009 at 11:12 am
[...] Pottsgrove High Hears Motivator Burnham Teen-age suicide survivor Jordan Burnham brought a message of life change to students Thursday at Pottsgrove High School. [...]