You don’t think it can happen to you until it does.

This doesn't hit close to home, this is home.

It’s scary to think that Parkland will never be the considered in the city of Coral Springs and Boca again.

I am a native South Floridian who attended middle school in Coral Springs which means nothing to anyone. Except that means everything to me. Coral Springs and Parkland are small towns that border one another. They’re the kind of cities that everyone knows everyone.

When tragedy struck February 14th, at Stoneman Douglas High School my heart immediately sunk. One of my best friends is currently a junior there and a former camp counselor of mine is a teacher at that school. I wish they were the only people I know at that school, but unfortunately, I know almost half the student body. Two of which were victims of Nikolas Cruz.

Being 12 hours away from home words can’t describe the feeling I had as I sat through my Geology lab as the shooting was taking place. I couldn’t get a hold of any of my friends, unsure if they were ok. I couldn’t focus and I only could think the worse.

My heart broke knowing this was taking place in a town I call home. It's heartbreaking getting calls from young family members telling me they're scared to go to school or that they don't feel safe there. Of course, any mass shooting is devastating, but it feels a million times worse when it happens at home.

Seeing all the nearby schools showing their love and support for Douglas brings tears to my eyes. Numerous students participated in a 17 minute, countywide walk out to take a stand against what happened. The movement #NeverAgain was created, and history began to be made. Community members held signs of love as educators returned to a campus covered in flowers and balloons in honor of the 17 dead.

It’s been two weeks since the shooting took place and it feels like yesterday, but seeing all of these kids standing up to end gun violence makes me hopeful. Hopeful for my generation. Kids who should be mourning the loss of their friends are standing up and taking a stand.

Some of these students aren’t even old enough to vote yet, but they are old enough to fight for what they think is right. These students traveled to the Tallahassee and rallied with hundreds of others to demand safety in their schools. I am so beyond proud to see KIDS fight for what they believe in and beg the government for protection and protest their safety.

No more silence, end-all gun violence

I am proud to call Parkland my home. Parkland, let’s keep our heart filled and head high as we come together in this tragic time. Always and forever MSD strong!!