Sisters By Chance Friends by Choice

A/N Never Again

     A/N I'm sorry that this isn't an actual update.  I'm sorry that I am going to copy and paste this and post it on all of my books.  I know that a lot of you read all of my books, so I apologize you'll see it so many times.  However, I know there are people who only read one or two, and I want everyone to see this.  I know people probably see the words "Author's Note" and are probably like "Here we go again" and then click off.  Please, please, please keep reading. 
     This is going to be about National Walkout Day and school shootings as a bigger issue.  If you're going to sit behind your computer screen and hate on this in a childish way, then don't read it.  This is not meant to offend anyone by any means. I simply want to spread awareness and get my thoughts across in an as respectful way as possible.  I'm not here to hate and I'm not here to cause drama.  I'm here to write about what's important to me, and this is so close to my heart.
     I hate to get political because I don't want to offend people and I don't want to cause arguments.  However, enough is enough, and I can't sit back and take it anymore.  Is this even still a political issue?  Or is it a human rights issue?
Today, approximately 2,850 districts, in support or not, had students who walked out of schools across the nation at 10 AM. Most walkouts lasted 17 minutes; one minute for each victim killed in Parkland. Some lasted much longer, even hours. Many districts stood behind their students directing their energy in a positive manner. Other districts threatened to suspend 5, 50, or 500 students. But guess what? Those kids still left. Some kids attending private schools were even were threatened to be charged with a fine because it was against contract. People stood collecting money to pay those fines that schools threatened. Nobody will stand in the way of these thousands and thousands of teenagers.
At 10 AM, I left my classroom with seven other students. Seven. That's it. Seven out of 25. I walked down the hall, greeted by other kids leaving their classes. It was always just a few walking out of each classroom door. However, those few quickly grew exponentially as the hall filled with teenagers walking with a purpose. We were on our way to our LGI (we couldn't be in the auditorium because there was a theatre class taking place and we couldn't be in the gym because of PE. The point was to not disrupt kids who wanted to remain in classes). It's true, we didn't walk out of the building. Student organizers had different ideas. A few senior girls registered to walk out then approached administration. They decided to hold a remembrance ceremony indoors.
Walking into te LGI, my friends and I filed into rows of seats and sat down. There was talking and laughter filling the room and making it a happy environment. Then, the head organizer got on the microphone and said "hello."
I have never in my life heard a room full of an upwards of 200 high school students get so quiet so fast. At that point, it was obvious that we were there because we cared.
For the next 50 minutes, students spoke about our positions as students to enforce change. Fourteen students and three staff members from our own district read short biographies and stood in representation of each victim in Parkland. Every moment was so powerful. I am 16 years old and on the older end of the four grades. I have never felt anything more invigorating in my entire life. To know that I am part of a movement, that I am just a small piece of something so much bigger, is incredible.
After the speaking, we proved our presence, because what do words mean anyway? We went outside and walked around the building in a block formation. We didn't want to just hide in the LGI. We wanted the public to see us. We wanted students who opted to stay in classrooms to see that they couldn't stop us.
As promised to administrators, the day continued on as planned and we completed the rest of our classes. Everything was normal. Except one thing. The 200 students plus more staff members who chose to walkout wore orange ribbons on their clothing to prove our stance. Whoever we approached knew where we stood just by taking a look at us. And those ribbons also united is for the rest of the day with the others who walked out.
So enough about my story. Lets talk about the country. Tens of thousands of high school students proved today that since no one else will pay attention, kids will change the world. We as a whole commemorated those lost in Parkland and remembered those in Columbine, Sandy Creek, and everything in between. We also proved that the government can ignore us no longer. Because we might just be kids, but we know what we're talking about. Because no one else in this country has done anything yet, the burden is moved to the us. It has been 19 years. That is 19 years too long. There have been 12 mass school shootings in those 19 years. That is 12 too many.
We walked so those 149 students lost in mass school shootings since Columbine aren't forgotten. Those students had mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmas, grandpas, and so many other family members who loved them. They had friends, peers at school, teachers. They had dreams and futures, just like you and I. They were accepted into colleges and had career plans for their futures. They hoped to raise families. To have kids of their own. They had pets. They participated in sports, marching band, clubs; all things we over look. They had hundreds of people who knew who they were. Now thousands know their names. They will never know it.
So many kids think it would never happen to us. It can happen to anyone. Any state, and city, any town, any school, any student. You don't choose it and you might not see it coming. End it before it happens again.
Thoughts and prayers; two words that are so old. Victims who have lost loved ones and witnessed hallways splashed with blood and smelling of sulfur with dead bodies sprawled about; thoughts and prayers mean very little to them at this point. That phrase has been used for 19 years and look where we are now? 11 school shootings later. That's where we are. Thoughts and prayers are cheap, policy change isn't.
When the Parkland shooter planned his attack, he never knew that it would cause this chain reaction. He probably though that it would be swept under the rug like the other 11. He was wrong. He picked the wrong school, the wrong group of students, and, ultimately, the wrong generation. This generation of students will change the world because if we don't, we might be next.

I was introduced to this video today. I strongly encourage everyone reading to take two minutes to watch it. It is so moving and absolutely heartbreaking.

Teenagers, let along elementary schoolers should ever go through this. In the video, elementary school boys, victims of Sandy Hook, recalled being told by Police to close their eyes and walk out of the room holding onto one another's shoulders because of the gruesome scenes. That is sickening. Little, innocent kids, were put through this and had their lives changed forever.
My hopes are that this generation keeps fighting. That they win this battle against congress, the NRA, and approximately half of the U.S population. Hopefully in the future, #NeverAgain will only be a memory of the past to ground us and remind us how far we've come. Hopefully, we can make sure that this is the last time innocent lives are taken. Kids should worry about learning, not fearing for their lives. Don't back down. If you're with me, let your voice be heard. Know that so many people are behind you. Keep fighting!
Side note: if your district told you that you would be punished if you walked out, they could potentially be wrong. If you go to a public school, you do not loose your rights the second you walk through the door. Do not depend on my word for any of this because it does differ greatly across the nation. However, maybe it will inspire you to learn about it on your own. Anything that is not disruptive or against specified situations in your handbook, they cannot tell you you cannot walkout. They can punish you for skipping school. However, they can't intensify the punishment due to it being a political issue. I encourage you to inform yourselves of your rights and know what your district can and cannot do. I am not encouraging fighting your district, just be informed. I was fortunate enough to be supported by administration but many weren't. Good luck, be safe, and remember, kids can change the world for the better.
Comment if you walked out. I'd love to hear your experience with it.