An alarming number of teens at CHS let people who are hurting them continue to be an active part of their lives.

Some say that they allow these people to stay because they are attached, or do not want to be alone.

“I let them stay because of the attachment I have to them and being scared to lose them,” Karleigh Anderson, junior, said.

“I try to see the good in people, and sometimes, I’m just attached and can’t let them go,” MarKayla Mayo, freshman, said.

“I have a fear of loneliness,” Mykaela Logan, freshman, said.

“I think I get attached easily to any type of attention,” Monica McCoy, sophomore, said.

“I get emotionally attached, and I’d rather be hurting while with them instead of hurting because I don’t have them,” Lindsey Evans, junior, said.

Others say it is their compassionate personalities that do not allow them to push toxic people away.

“I’m too nice of a person,” Savannah Morris, junior, said. “I just let stuff go.”

“I’m a very caring person, and that makes me not want to push them out of my life,” Naomi Davis, freshman, said.

Teens also believe they get treated badly because of problems going on in the other person’s life.

“Everyone deserves a second chance because some people have bad days,” Aiden Harmon, freshman, said.

“I usually don’t allow those people to stay, but sometimes I do because they deserve a second chance,” Eric Wilson, freshman, said.

Also, several teens suppose that toxic individuals’ behavior can be transformed by keeping them in their lives.

“You never know what they’re going through,” Makinzie King, freshman, said. “That’s probably why they’re being toxic, and I have a feeling that I’m helping them out and can make them less toxic somehow.”

“You may think you can change them,” Chase Adkins, freshman, said.

Some even believe that keeping toxicity in their lives is entertaining.

“It’s fun,” Nathan Paris, sophomore, said. “It adds a little bit of spice.”

“I like it,” Javion Martin, senior, said. “It’s funny sometimes. One second they’re mad, then the next second they’re back again.”

Various teens hold on to people because of how they were once treated by them.

“I don’t want to let go of them yet because of the memories,” Savannah Reynolds, freshman, said.

“I still love them,” Karlee Sims, freshman, said.

“You reminisce on the times when y’all were good, and you stay to see if it will go back to that point,” Zakyah Mansfield, sophomore, said.

On the contrary, many teens share the belief that keeping toxic people in their lives is unnecessary.

“I don’t allow toxic people to stay in my life,” Jacobi Bradner, freshman, said. “They are going to hate. Be the bigger hater.”

“I don’t let them stay,” Tymoni Turner, freshman, said. “They’re like cancer.”

“They can be rude and not care about you,” Ryver Scearce, freshman, said.

Toxic people bring negativity, which is another shared factor of why numerous teens do not allow them to keep trying to bring them down.

“They don’t stay in my life; I get ’em gone,” Miky’an King, senior, said. “They will hold you back. I don’t like negative energy.”

“Their negativity is bad for your health,” Ameyea Murphy, junior, said.

“Why would I deal with the negative when I could deal with positive,” Jaylen Brown, freshman, said.