Sorrow at Ridge High School After Sophomore, An 'Angel' Who Changed Lives, Dies

She was an angel who was so young. But she was mature beyond her years.

Because, even though Kyra O'Dwyer was only a sophomore at a New Jersey high school, she "changed lives forever," friends say.

She wasn't afraid to take risks, even going up to one "star" on the Internet, while the performer was on tour, and asking the performer "who you thought the hottest president was," a friend said.

This week, that star changed her Twitter handle to honor Kyra.

"I wish I would've been given the opportunity to tell you how loved you were angel," one friend, Mia, wrote on Twitter.

Kyra O’Dwyer, a 10th-grade student at Ridge High School, died on Friday night, announced Principal Francis T. Howlett in a letter over the weekend.

"We know that the community will be affected by this tragic loss," Howlett said,

The letter also addressed parents and the feelings their children may experience.

"These feelings may focus on the person who has died, another person who died in the past, an impending death, or anxiety about death in general," Howlett said.

"These are all very normal feelings for children and adults to have. Accepting and validating your son’s/daughter’s feelings is beneficial. During the weeks and months ahead, confusing feelings may surface periodically. It is helpful to discuss them with a parent or trusted adults."

Those same feelings were expressed in the numerous social media tributes that, for some, taught valuable lessons about Kyra, and about life.

They remembered somebody who was willing to take risks, who wrote funny things and had a wit that was timeless.

A number of people - including those who didn't know her - even changed their Twitter handles to say "Rest In Peace, Kyra."

They were amazed that somebody could have such an ability to inspire people at such a young age.

Howlett encouraged parents to listen carefully to their children and to answer questions openly and honestly if they occur and let them know that even adults do not have all the answers concerning questions about death.

"Many of us find this to be a confusing time and an awkward topic to discuss, but open communication is always the best path through difficult issues," Howlett said.

Howlett also offered some resources for parents:

• National Association of School Psychologists – Stages of grief and grief reactions http://www.nasponline.org/reso...
• Children’s Grief Education Association – Words that can help/hurt http://childgrief.org/document...
• Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth – Grief reactions/helpful responses http://ubhc.rutgers.edu/tlc/gu...
• Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth – Helping you help your child http://ubhc.rutgers.edu/tlc/gu...

Counselors from the schools are available for students to help them process their grief.

"In this very sad time, it is important that we pull together to support one another," Howlett said.

Image via Shutterstock

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