I saw the news alert pop up on my phone “shooting at Florida high school,” I just assumed that it was at a school that I had never heard of, but I was wrong. I clicked the article and instantly saw that it was a school whose name that I knew just as well as my own high school. No, I didn’t go there, nor did I know anyone who went there, but I grew up about 45 minutes north and I was in marching band. To most people, this might not seem like important information, but to anyone in band, it means the world.

I went to Park Vista and was in the marching band, which means that we competed with Stoneman in almost every competition.

They were kind of a rival for us in a way, we were the two best bands in South Florida, so every year we competed for first in all the competitions. If we won first than they were second, if they won first than we were second.

It was back and forth and we were almost identically matched, we even shared some of the same instructors from time to time. I had been to the school countless times for the various competitions, so thinking that the very hallways that I had stood in were now tainted with the blood of those innocently killed, I felt numb.

Stoneman had a band that was known for overcoming adversity, a few years ago their band director died suddenly in the middle of the season. Instead of just giving up, they finished the season and placed in the top bands for the national competition. Last year they won first place at the state competition and we were all disappointed because obviously, we wanted Park Vista to be first.

But now, I am happy that they won not only for themselves and the school but for those two band members that were killed, they got to be champions.

This is a school that can overcome adversity and will come out stronger.

But it's not just about the band, it is about the seventeen teenagers that were killed that day, seventeen that shouldn't have been killed. That day will forever be a reminder for those kids of the horrors that can happen, so hug your babies a little closer today and remember that these kids are strong and they will overcome this hurdle. And remember Stoneman Douglas, the world is here for you.