9:55 A.M. I put my backpack down in my art class, pull my coat sleeves on over my sweater, grab my phone, and head to the center of the school. 10 A.M. I meet my friends and fellow students, and I walk out into the frigid New Jersey weather. It’s a clear cold morning, and the student body seems generally excited. All seems calm and relatively collected, given the heated debates surrounding the event.

Yet, my small suburb was only a fraction of a nationwide movement. On March 14, 2018, thousands of students--both high school and younger--participated in walkouts to honor the legacy of those who perished in Parkland, Florida exactly one month before, and to demand gun law reform. One school in California had their students walk out onto the field and stand in the formation of the “#Enough.” Another school in South Brunswick, NJ, put 17 empty desks out on their football field as a way to honor those who perished in the Parkland shooting. Other schools placed 17 roses on the field, 17 pairs of shoes, and other items to symbolically represent the teenagers who perished. Posters bearing strong messages were held up at other schools as well. In my town of Scotch Plains, we walked up to the field, had a few moments of silence, all signed a banner that used the popular #Enough, and were given the opportunity to register to vote, given that we were at least 17 years old.

Bella Hurtado, my friend, fellow senior, and a member of Student Council, stated, “Gun violence has raged on through our country for years now with no legislation to change it, and finally over 2,500 schools full of young adults are exercising their rights to have their opinion shown. I hope the walkout displays the fact that we are a force to be reckoned with, and we won’t disappear in the background when tragedies strike but rather take to the streets and stand up for what we believe in.” She was instrumental in orchestrating our walk out, and I completely agree with her--it is important that young people voice their concerns, as we really are the future of the country.

Another friend of mine, Mikaela Tajo, also a senior, is a member of our local JSA (Junior State of America) chapter, and also helped plan the walk out. “We did not coordinate a protest just to protest. We protested because someone has to remind Congress that, unfortunately, gun regulations affect millions of students all across the country. That is the point we were trying to make. You didn’t just walk out with your classmates, you walked out with hundreds of thousands of students across the country. You were a part of history. Remember that,” explained Tajo. Evidently, students are trying their hardest to use their voices to end the vicious cycle that typically follows school shootings. The cycle in which people sympathize with the victims and eventually move on, never entreating Congress to issue bills to prevent gun violence.

While I am lucky to live in a fairly progressive area, there were a number of students who did not participate in the walkout. Some of their reasons completely baffled me; there were cries of “it won’t be effective,” and “it’s a waste of time because no one is listening”, or “it’s a cold morning.” How can the government, how can the President, ignore thousands of young voices around the nation who have simply had ENOUGH and want to improve the school safety environment for themselves, their siblings, friends and teachers? Lives were lost and risking a chilly day for 17 minutes is worth having your voice heard.

Then, there is the other side of the debate. The old “thoughts and prayers.” While I do not entirely disagree with this approach, (my first reaction was to immediately pray for these students and their families), I will acknowledge that it will not solely fix the problem at hand. Thoughts and prayers offer kind words to the victims’ families and survivors of school shootings; they help begin the long and multifaceted process of emotional healing. But will they stop other tragedies from happening in the future, and stop other lives from being taken by school shootings and shootings in general? No, they will not, and this is why we do in fact need to take action too.

Yet at the same time, we have freedom of speech. It is up to the individual whether or not they choose to utilize it. While we simply cannot force everyone to talk, it is important that students know that they have the right to do so, and should exercise it as much as possible.

I am glad to have taken part in this historic milestone for America. Throughout our history, young people have protested and taken a stand for causes--from the Civil Rights Movement to Vietnam. But this movement is unique in the fact that it is rooted in our everyday lives, and it encompasses every American student, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation. I feel grateful to live in a place that grants me freedom of speech, and I am honored to have utilized it in the walkout. Also, even as I write these words now.

This is why I was thankful for the way my school’s walkout was organized. We were given the opportunity to honor the victims, and the chance to register to vote gave us the opportunity to potentially vote regarding politicians who would benefit our cause. The chance to voice our opinions and appeal to get the ball rolling for a change. And our cause aims to save innocent human lives from being violently taken. To give students the opportunity to flourish and succeed in the world. To craft a safer world for everyone in it, and to unite everyone for a better tomorrow.