Sid struggled to remain calm. His breath came in short gasps. The fear of death gripped his soul, and his hand shook uncontrollably as his finger wound around the trigger of the .45 Magnum. 'I can do this, ' he said. His heart raced. His hand was still unsteady as he brought the weapon up toward his temple. To keep the gun centered, he brought his other hand up to hold it.

'This isn't going to work. Calm down, Sid.' He brought the pistol back down to his lap. 'I'll just have one more cigarette. That should calm my nerves.' What could have possibly happened to make Sid want to take his own life? You will see, through one tragic event after another, exactly what has brought this young man to such a crossroads. Over the course of one horrific, roller-coaster year, Sid has experienced everything from elation to abject shame to terror. Discover with Sid how God was there with him through it all, even when he didn't know it-especially when he didn't know it-right up to the last, crucial moment.

Will he take his own life, or will his faith carry him through? Echoes from the Academy is a fictionalized account of actual events in the life of author Jeffrey Mann. He has written his story as a call to those who are hurting and feel like they are alone in the dark. He wants readers to know that no matter how deep the problems are or how hopeless things seem, life is worth living.