sad news. kid with yearbook photo with cat and laser beams committed suicide

[Liberal_in_LA]

http://www.sfgate.com/local/article/Suicide-claims-shining-student-6093034.php

imes-Union) — Draven Rodriguez, a quick-witted senior at Schenectady High School who made national news last fall when a proposed yearbook portrait of him with his cat against a background of laser beams went viral online, died Thursday at home. He was 17. The cause was suicide, his parents said.
Although his humor and intelligence were readily apparent, Rodriguez was more cherished by family and schoolmates for his easy facility for friendship.
"He made friends wherever he went," said Rodriguez's father, Jonathan Stewart. "He had friends all over the country — people he'd met at youth-leadership conferences, online, just around town."


Among those was Reza Zand, co-owner of the Schenectady restaurant Persian Bite, which Rodriguez frequented partly for the food and partly to talk to Zand and his brother, Arousol, whose stories as emigres from Iran intrigued him.

[Arugula Latte]

1. Oh no.

That is devastating. I loved that kid's spirit and sense of humor (and love of kitties). Damn depression.

[haikugal]

2. Why? He sounds wonderful,

and he's attractive...was he being hounded? I don't understand this, what am I missing?

On edit....depression? Damn.

[BlueJazz]

3. Another light goes out.

[polly7]

4. Nooooo ........

I know he was also involved in an anti-bullying campaign, my niece showed me something once on her computer, but I can't remember the site.

Just awful news.

[onecaliberal]

5. :

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. I miss what could have been. May he rest in peace.

[Eyerish]

7. This just breaks my heart

RIP Draven

[Bohunk68]

8. Many of my friends within the LGBT community

strongly suspect from reading his story that he may have been one of our own. Many of the hallmarks were there. How sad. He was an awesome young man.

[silvershadow]

9. We.must.do.more.

This is heartbreaking. There needs to be a "It Gets Better" project, on steroids. I wish there would be.

[yourmovemonkey]

11. Draven and his parents have been my close friends for many years

He was just an awesome kid. As an openly gay man, who was his friend, I can tell you that he wouldn't have had any reservations about telling any of us. He and his family are some of the most warm, kind and accepting people I have ever known. We are all heartbroken and confused. On Thursday, he was laughing and joking with his father. They made plans to go to the guitar shop on Sunday to buy a slide. He wanted to learn more about the blues.

I'm on my way to see his parents now. So I won't be able to respond until later, but please understand it's just a horrible tragedy. He was such a caring and concerned young guy, that I think he thought of this as a way to keep from burdening all of us with his problems.

[Adrahil]

14. Please extend my condolences.....

Such a great young man.... It's heart-breaking to see that light go out.

[renate]

22. I hope they know just how many people were fond of him, even from afar

He sounds just as wonderful as I would have guessed from that awesome picture. I am just heartbroken by this--he must have been such a joy to know. It's so sad that he was dealing with such a terrible struggle.

[yourmovemonkey]

34. They do, and they are very appreciative.

Thank you so much for your concern.

[KMOD]

24. I don't know you, or Draven's parents,

but I do live nearby. I am so very sorry for their loss. Draven seemed to have everything going for him, intelligence, humor, and a big heart. I'm so impressed with all the organizations he was involved in and committed too. I worry so much for the kids today and all the pressures on them. Especially this time of year when the college acceptance, rejections start coming in.

My heart is heavy, and I'm am so very sad for his parents and friends. It also hurts to know that they may never understand or know why this happened. My sincere condolences to all of you.

[yourmovemonkey]

33. Thank you. This is a deep shock to all of us.

There really isn't any reason. As you said, he had everything going for him. He had already received several acceptance letters from universities. He was an exceptional student also. I've had other friends who suffered from depression too. It isn't about how much is going right in a person's life.

[progressoid]

30. Yes,

let his parents know he was loved from afar.

[adigal]

39. How horrible....sometimes I think Jim Carrey was right after Philip Hoffman

for the most sensitive among us, the noise is sometimes too much.

Please give his family my condolences. I teach school right up the road from you in Warren County.

[Ms. Toad]

31. First thought that crossed my mind. n/t

[yurbud]

10. Did the coverage of the photo bother him or did he take it as good fun?

[yourmovemonkey]

35. It was all in good fun.

Many of us were worried about the fallout, but there was never any bullying that resulted from it. It was typical of his silly sense of humor though. No one ever expected it to blow up the way it did, but Draven was very comfortable letting everyone in on it.

[H2O Man]

12. Very sad.

My daughter met him at a conference in 2014.

[hifiguy]

13. So sad.

[Egnever]

15. Sad but not that much of a shock

Always sad when a young person kills themselves. I thought when the story about him first appeared that there might be something deeper going on. Hope his family can find some peace.

[whathehell]

19. Why is it not much of a shock? n/t

[Marrah_G]

16. This is so sad :(

[m-lekktor]

17. that cat photo is hilariously excellent, this is just awful news.

I feel for those who knew him, I suspect he was wonderful to be around and have as a child or friend.

[Quackers]

18. ...

[tk2kewl]

20. damn

[NuclearDem]

21. Damn it. Just...damn it.

[Barack_America]

23. So terribly sad. I wonder if this will be another case of cyberbullying.

Just heartbreaking. So tough to be a kid these days.

[herding cats]

25. What a heartbreaking tragedy.

My deepest condolences to his family and all who loved him. Things like this, they never make sense to those left behind, and everyone is going to be confused and looking for ways they could have prevented this tragedy from taking place. I just hope they eventually understand it wasn't them, it was something deep inside of him which they didn't touch that lead to this loss.

Peace to all those touched by this heartbreaking event.

[vt_native]

26. This makes me sad.

[TwilightGardener]

27. How very sad. Poor kid, poor family.

[Jamastiene]

28. Damn!

[progressoid]

29. Damn.

[TexasTowelie]

32. So sad to read the news.

I hope that he finds peace.

[GoCubsGo]

36. So sad.

There aren't enough people in the world like this young man. What a loss.

[awoke_in_2003]

37. so very sad...

I did smile when I saw that his principal showed support by posing with him and Mr. Bigglesworth while holding her dog.

[KMOD]

38. a link to his legacy page

Just thought some might want to send a note of condolence.

http://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/timesunion-albany/draven-michael-rodriguez-condolences/174230924?cid=full