midterm project: Magazine Interview

World magazine was able to get an exclusive interview with Clay Jensen from the top selling novel Thirteen Reasons Why. We were able to catch up with Clay in his hometown of Crestmont at Rosie's Diner (which is E-5 on the map). While we splurged on a hot chocolate, in memory of Hannah, Clay was able to give readers never-revealed-before information. Clay Jensen was a junior at Crestmont High School when he received in the mail a shoebox full of cassette tapes with the sad last words of Hannah Baker, his classmate, co-worker and friend. As Clay is listening to the thirteen sides of the seven tapes, he is walking around his hometown, looking at the landmarks that Hannah Baker has highlighted. Clay is initially shocked when he hears Hannah's voice on the tape, and then has a growing sense of dread when his name will be mentioned on the tapes and Hannah addresses her thoughts to him.

WILL: Clay, if Jay Asher would write a book about your life story, would it sell as well as Hannah's story?

CLAY: My story would not be about suicide that is for sure. My life story, up to this point in my life, would be a story about an ordinary guy. It is only through Hannah that any of my life story would be in a book. I don't think I would make the best-seller list.

WILL: Do you think Hannah perceived her circumstances correctly?

CLAY: I think that Hannah made a lot of wrong conclusions about her circumstances. I am not trying to minimize her feelings and thoughts about her daily life, but she was not clear in her thinking. Hannah made a life and death decision about things that were not worthy of taking her own life. Hannah's suicide has made me think about my own life. I want to make sure that I don't have suicidal thoughts about problems in my daily life that really can be resolved. 

WILL: What one word would you use to describe yourself?

 CLAY: Oh, come on, only one word? Let me think, since I can only say one word. I guess I would choose 'trusting', but let me explain what I mean. I have chosen to trust in my faith- trusting in a higher power than myself. My faith has changed my life.

WILL: What one word would others use to describe you?

CLAY: Only one word again? Maybe you should help me out here, Will. I would choose 'courageous'. I only say that word because there have been many people that I have talked to since Hannah's death that have told me that they are amazed with my courage in dealing with Hannah's suicide.  I have actually been quite surprised that people have thought that! People have told me that they admired my courage in facing this tragedy without falling apart and looking for the good in this bad situation.

WILL: If you were given an opportunity to talk to Hannah for two minutes, what would you say?

CLAY: Boy, how many times have I wished for this? Many, many times, Will. I would tell Hannah that she needs to talk to someone and not like what she did with Mr. Porter, where she talked, but did not really say anything about what she was thinking - suicide. I would want her to know that there is hope for her and that God has a plan for her life that is far beyond these high school problems. I wish I could give her a message of hope.

WILL: The author considers this story a suspense, but I did not see the suspense at all. The ending was completely expected. What was your intention when you called out Skye's name at the end?

CLAY: Well, she was my eighth grade crush, you know. But something had happened to her between then and now- acting like an outcast and wearing strange clothes. I realized that I could not have another friend go down the same path- suicide. I could not let her slip through my fingers. If she needed help, or to talk about things, I wanted to make a greater effort- I wanted to be there for her. So when I called out her name at the end of the book, it was to show the reader that I was changed by Hannah's death and was going to see and handle people differently.

WILL: Oh, OK. Now I understand the ending better. I can see the suspense now. What are your thoughts on suicide?

CLAY: Well, Will, I believe that with the right help, it can be prevented. It is the waste of a human life.

WILL: Do you believe in life after death?

CLAY: I had not given this question much thought until after Hannah's death. I definitely believe in life after death.

WILL: What advice do you have for people, especially teens, who are facing circumstances similar to yours in the book?

CLAY: Reach out to people. Be willing to listen to people, even if what they say is disturbing. Don't be judgmental. You never know when you might be instrumental in saving a friend's life from suicide. It really is not as hard to do these things as it might seem to be. Skye and I have had some real heart to heart conversations and she decided that she needed to talk to our school counselor about some things she was struggling with.

WILL: Now that you have experienced this ordeal, do you have any plans for raising awareness about suicide?

CLAY: Thanks, Will, for asking me this so that I may have an opportunity to share what I have been working on. I am working with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to have an "Out of the Darkness Walk" in Hannah's memory. The event will take place on October 23 at Eisenhower Park in Crestmont. Additionally, I have worked with Mr. Porter to begin a suicide support group at Crestmont High School. Both of these projects have been healing for the student body as well as the faculty of the school.

WILL: Clay, I want to thank you for taking time to talk with me and give our readers further insight on suicide and the impact that it has on every person's life.

Clay Jensen considers himself to be an ordinary high school aged guy. Ordinary? I think that it is quite evident that he is far from being ordinary. He found himself in the middle of his high school years in a heart-wrenching situation- dealing with a friend's suicide. By the time Clay found out what Hannah was thinking prior to taking her life, it was too late for Clay to intervene for her. It left him with a lot of regret and more questions than answers. He knew that he had let Hannah down. But rather than shut down and lose his hope as well, he has been able to look at this tragedy through the eyes of his faith in God. Clay has learned through this difficult experience to look beyond himself for his purpose in his life. He has learned to trust in his faith and courageously speak out for suicide prevention. What is courage? Isn't it going ahead with something even when it looks impossible? Nothing is impossible with God. Clay has most certainly reached beyond his comfort zone to reach out to hurting people in his community. Clay has been able to take a situation that was tragic beyond words and use it to shed light to other hurting people. He has found that a kind word or gesture can make a huge impact. And then by bringing the services of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to his community, he is making an impact now and for years to come.