Current Events

Memorial service set for Monday for Taylor Combs, freshman

Elise Brown
November 30, 2012

Courtesy of WLHS Yearbook and LifeTouch Photography

Taylor Combs, freshman, died the evening of Sunday, Nov. 25.

On Tuesday, Nov. 27, her father, Joshua Combs, released the following statement on Facebook.

“I write this with a very heavy and broken heart, so please forgive the lack of eloquence and proper grammar. I was blessed with two beautiful girls, who are the light and joy of my life. On Sunday evening we experienced a tragic loss of life. Taylor was like sunshine that touched everyone’s life, she could brighten the darkest of rooms and brought joy to all. She was kind, compassionate, loving, beautiful, very intelligent, comical, always happy (on the outside). Unfortunately, Taylor, carried deep within her a sadness and feeling of loss that no one, not even her closest of family and friends knew. This sadness was so overwhelming that she felt the only way out was to take her own life. The grief we feel at this time is indescribable, and we know that there are no words that can take that feeling away. However, with this great sorrow we are experiencing, we also take refuge in knowing that our family is so much larger than thought.

“Please come and join us on Monday 12/3 at 4pm where we will celebrate Taylor’s Life at Willamette Christian Church – 3153 S Brandywine Drive, West Linn, OR 97068.”

The Monday following Combs’ death, counselors from all over the district were available in the Forum for students who were affected by Combs’ death. They continue to be available in the conference room in the main office.

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About the Contributor

Elise Brown, Co Editor-in-Chief

Elise Brown, senior, has always felt comfortable standing up and giving her opinion in front of everyone and for the most part, she enjoys it very much. That is one of the many reasons why she heads the debate team, and also why in June she earned a place in the National Speech and Debate Competition in Indianapolis.

Out of the 250 people entered in the competition, she finished 151st in the country. Before she earned her rightful place in Nationals, however, she needed to prove herself in Districts and State.

Her 10 minute long speech about socialism and its benefits took first and second in Districts and State, respectively.

“In the National competition the judges didn’t appreciate politics or controversy as much as they did in Districts and State,” Brown said. This was confirmed from one of the judges she conversed with in order to find out what she could do better.

Brown’s interest in current events started in the eighth grade. She then did the Amplifier, the high school newspaper to help communicate her ideas about the world with her fellow peers, she also did the debate team to better understand the problems throughout the world and learn how to solve them somewhat.

“Debate involves knowing what is going on in the world,” Brown said.

This year for upcoming competitions, she has a speech in the works that she feels will top her last one. This year’s speech is about interdependence inspired by the “you didn’t build that debate,” caused when President Barack Obama told business people that they did not create their businesses on their own.

Brown’s passion for debate has influenced what college she will go to, what she will study in college, and what she wants to do in her life. Brown’s goal is to graduate high school and then travel to Massachusetts and attend Wellesley College, a very well known and prestigious college, where Brown hopes to study political science.

To achieve this goal she has taken part in a number of rigorous courses and activities such as Speech and Debate, AP Government, AP Economics, Honors Law, AP English and journalism. Once Brown achieves her education goals, her next goal is to become a political commentator.

“I want to change people’s minds,” Brown said. Brown has chosen the path to become a political commentator because she believes political power lies with the media.

Brown has worked very hard throughout high school and continues to work hard through her senior year. She has taken many challenging courses to achieve her goal of going to Wellesley, and will need to continue down the very rigorous path to success to accomplish her goals.