I like to consider myself an activist that is not afraid to step up and be the change. I went to the Women’s Marches, I held a Women’s Leadership Conference, and I organized voter registration drives. Nothing could prepare me for the movement created by students for students: #NeverAgain.
I grew up in a world with school shooting being in my past, present, and sadly future. After the horrific shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, it was time for leaders to arise and speak out. I knew that I could be one of those leaders. A small group of close friends and I began working to organize a Walk Out for our school and fundraisers for the Parkland students. I knew that this Walk Out meant more than just a message to politicians but it set a precedent for student activism in my school.
An overwhelming amount of support and love flooded our messages along with praise from teachers and staff members. We were given the liberty by the administration to lead the Walk Out allowing us to really shape what message we wanted to send to our peers and community. We decided that we wanted to focus on what our peers want rather than what we thought they wanted.
Our school Walk Out consisted of seventeen minutes of reflection to do whatever each student felt they needed to do at that moment, whether it be start a conversation with someone, walk around the football field with a sign, or have a moment of silence by themselves. We also had a table on the field with posters for people to sign and voter registration forms.
Everything seemed to be going according to plan, however, what we didn’t account for was the hate and backlash that would be projected at us. Weeks before the Walk Out, Instagram accounts for both sides appeared strengthening the polarization within my high school. These accounts were not productive, they were radical.
One side would blame everyone, even people supporting gun control, for the most recent mass shootings while the other side would retaliate with derogatory terms. The comments were flooded with arguments, not discussion. In an attempt to put out the fire, I reached out to one of the accounts about helping them spread their message in a more effective way, however, my account was then put on blast with screenshots of my messages with my name and picture.
The next few days I spent my time in the principal's office unsuccessfully trying to find a way to get the post attacking me down.
I began to think that all of our efforts were causing more harm than good. Was this all really worth it? I learned quickly that it was. Students from all grade levels began to come out and support me. The comments on the post about me were not filled with hate but supported my efforts. In school, my peers encouraged me giving me the strength to continue the fight for more sensible gun laws.
After the Walk Out, I held a rally with students from neighboring high schools and I am in the process of organizing a Vote by Mail Ballot Application drive for seniors leaving for college. Even though I had to climb a mountain to get where I am today, it was all worth it. The march continues.
