[RedefinedDiva]

Here I am to save the day! Well, not really, but I want to speak out for Tonya. Believe me, I don't care for her too much myself, but there is sort of a method to her madness. She is like the students that I teach. She has to display attention seeking behaviors in order to make up for her past. When people do not get the attention they deserve when they are kids from "parents," they seek other avenues to get what is missing. They also create worlds in which they MUST be the center of attention.

If you read the article, you'll notice that she KNEW that she was sick when she went on the show. Why risk your health and life to be on a TV show that you know is going to put a lot of stress on you? BECAUSE she knew that she could get attention and sympathy from MILLIONS of people. Ever notice that there is NEVER an episode that she is not on? When Keri went home for the weekend, we didn't see her. When Kyle went home for the weekend, we barely saw him. We ALWAYS see Tonya.

That's why she clings to Justin. That's why she has to talk to him 24/7. If she doesn't feel that she has him completely, she will begin to feel that lose all over again. She also seeks out sympathy and is overly dramatic with her illness. We, as humans, have a natural tendency to reach out to those in need. She milks her roommates (and us) for that attention. On the same token, as humans, we have the tendency to take advantage of things. Tonya takes advantage and that causes her to be hated.

I actually feel sorry for her because I don't know what it feels like to not have parents, as do most of us. I am the only child, so I had all the attention that I needed and then some. Tonya can be really cool, but she just has to realize that the world does not revolve around her.