Eastbayri.com

To the editor:

To quote the Tupac song Changes: “We gotta make a change … It’s time for us as a people to start makin’ some changes … let’s change the way we eat, let’s change the way we live and let’s change the way we treat each other. You see the old way wasn’t working so it’s on us to do what we gotta do, to survive.”

It’s time for East Providence to change. I remember when I graduated from EPHS, I never wanted to come back. My memories of high school were very negative; honestly, it was the worst four years of my life. When I walked across that stage, I wanted a one way ticket out; I couldn’t stand it here anymore.

I eventually went to Springfield College and my experience was better. In classes, I started sharing my experiences and finally started comprehending why I had issues in EP. My biggest reason for leaving is because I needed a fresh start. But at least one class a semester for four years forced me to relive my past in an uncomfortable way. Over time it got easier, but the things I told my classmates and professors made them cringe, not because of what I said but they couldn’t believe the stuff they were hearing that I had to go through. They also couldn’t believe that certain things were continuing in a time where tolerance of differences has become more of a norm in our society.

I came back to EP, but my biggest challenges have yet to come. While in college, it was easy to talk about my experiences because they weren’t from the area, and were not directly involved, but here, I’m not yet ready to come face to face with the people who were directly involved. There will be scars that will never heal, and some people I may never forgive. However, if I see them, I’ll be nice, regardless of what I think of them.

Being back a while and getting more involved with the community, it is amazing how much negativity is still here, and some of the old issues are still being brought up. This negativity is more poisonous than the asbestos in the high school; in fact, I feel it’s its own poisonous drug. There are a few things that I figured out that have not changed here: There’s always someone to blame, everyone sits on their hands, because it’s not their job or because the problem started before their tenure, instead of solving problems and setting the standard. We’re also resigned that nothing is going to change, even when solutions present themselves. We all should be sick and tired of reading commentary on how “all Republicans do is cut” and “Democrats only spend;” that certain people are “union hacks” and other labels.

I don’t always agree with Tom Riley, but in a meeting a while back, Mr. Riley asked “Is what we need an attitude change? Because attitude changes are free.” I agree; we most certainly do need an attitude change. As a community, regardless of where we stand on issues, we need an attitude change. It’s time we stop the ad-hominem comments on blogs, picking fights on soccer fields, and airing what we think of each other on Facebook. I see so much time being wasted, rather than finding solutions and changing the way we operate so things can be brighter. Another frequent is “if teachers aren’t happy (in regards to their paychecks) then why don’t they move somewhere where they can make more money instead of complaining about being the lowest paid?” Just because you aren’t happy with certain circumstances doesn’t mean you hate being where you are. Although I am not a teacher, I could choose to look for a job, pack up and leave EP; but I would rather stay and try to make improvements, hoping others would follow suit. Again to quote Tupac “some things will never change.” Or will it?

June Coan

34 Sunset Ave.