Oak Forest High School

For Friends, Loss of Stabbing Victim Is Still Fresh

For Felicia DePyper, the pain of seeing her daughter struggle through the loss of her best friend was too much to bear.

Following the July 2009 fatal stabbing death of Felix Jimenez, DePyper did what she thought was best, and pulled her daughter Dezi from the halls of Tinley Park High School.

"It was too difficult for her," DePyper said, of the first days after his death. Jimenez and Dezi had spent five years as close friends, and Jimenez was particularly fond of Dezi. The two dated briefly before their relationship grew into more of that between siblings—Jimenez became like an older brother to Dezi.

On the anniversary of his death two years later, she still grieves. 

"She has a hard time moving on," DePyper said. "She thinks of things in her life, and moving onwithout him there."

Dezi is one of many who faced the loss of a close friend in Jimenez; on the anniversary of his death, hundreds will memorialize the 18-year-old who was known for his smile, laugh, selflessness—and earnest attempts at dancing. Friends created a Remembering Felix Day page on Facebook, as a gathering place for those still mourning Jimenez. 

For DePyper, it was the late nights spent chatting with Jimenez that hold the most significance to her.

"I looked at him like a son, because he was always at my house," she said. "We would always joke about adopting him."

Childhood friend Fredo Alcantar grew up a block away from Jimenez. Jimenez often stopped by to help Alcantar's family, by cooking or mowing the lawn.

Jimenez would have been the best man in Alcantar's wedding; he settled for a relative of Jimenez, instead.

"At first, it was a lot of hatred," Alcantar said, of Jimenez's death. "There's still days when, out of nowhere, I'll be hit with memories."

Jimenez was 18 at the time of his death July 13, 2009. He had recently graduated from Oak Forest High School, and was set to enroll in community college the day after the party where he was fatally stabbed.

Many of his classmates have gone on to college, or careers. Alcantar reluctantly started the next chapters of his life, first with the Army National Guard, and later with his wife.

Jimenez still holds a place in his heart.

"I think about it, not to know that he's not there, and not sit there and think about it too much—knowing he's in a better place right now," Alcantar said. "He would want us to be happy.

Opportunities for high school students abroad — Oak Park & River ...

These days, high school students can take advantage of amazing opportunities to travel across the country and around the world to participate in life changing experiences. Colleges and universities offer unique and engaging summer learning sessions; camps and outfitters offer outdoor adventure programs in beautiful wilderness locations; and dozens of organization offer programs abroad where students immerse themselves in new cultures, languages and experiences.

Farther Foundation maintains a searchable online directory of more than 100 companies, schools and organizations that offer trips and programs especially designed for high school students. Whether you want to study science and engineering at a leading university, trek the Inca Trail to Machu Pichu in Peru or volunteer with local children in communities in Ghana or Thailand, we list programs that are right for you. In fact, past Farther Foundation scholarship recipients have participated in each of these programs and many more.

Farther Foundation ensures that lack of money does not prevent eager and deserving students from having these valuable, life changing experiences that otherwise would not be possible. One of our 2011 scholars, Jasmine, will be traveling to Costa Rica this summer as part of a program designed and operated by Global Leadership Adventures.

Global Leadership Adventures (GLA) leads service learning trips around the world that inspire high school students while preparing them for the future. Here is what GLA stands for:

Misson

• Our mission is to inspire the next generation to realize their potential to transform the world and their role in it.

Values

• Our Integrity is unspoken. It is the unfailing framework from which we build every program, human relationship, and bridge into a community.

• Respect is inherent in all of our interactions among students, staff, and all of the members whose communities we serve. Respect means accepting and celebrating differences. Respect means considering all points of view, always.

• Cooperation is key to our accomplishments. We are a traveling community, helping to serve other communities. We work together, learn from one another, and build valuable friendships in the process.

• Compassion is what drivers our service, and that compassion extends to students, parents, and host communities. Our care for people extends to everything we do.

• We are invested in the Personal Growth and development of all our students and staff. We foster an environment for students to safely explore, experience, and self-discover.

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The complete guide to service learning, proven, practical ways to engage students in civic responsibility, academic curriculum, & social action

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