To the Parkland survivors,
On Feb. 28, the survivors of the Parkland school shooting entered the classrooms of their high school once again. They were welcomed with therapy dogs and being able to be calm together, shown by Snapchats from students.
I cannot even imagine though what it must have felt like walking back into that building. That step through the door, even if there was a puppy ready to give kisses, must have been one of the hardest you have ever taken.
I am not here to say my opinion on gun rights or any other debates swarming social media and the news at the moment, instead I’m writing because I am in awe of that step inside, that return.
No one should ever have to face what you were forced to suffer through. Your friends and loved ones were lost during the tragedy two weeks before. You will never be able to go to them again to find happiness, but they will always be with you, in your mind and in your heart. I hope those memories of them will keep pushing you along, maybe make you realize that not all people are as bad as the one who ripped away your innocence.
If you were left with a bruise, either mentally or physically, I hope you can bring that along with you in life and that it pushes you to be a strong person. If you can survive what you just did, you can survive anything that this world may throw at you. I know that I have thought that life has been rough to me, but it was nothing in comparison. You are braver and stronger than I ever will be, and you have a country in awe of you.
For the ones you who are standing up for those who can no longer as you travel around the country speaking about how we can stop this from happening again, as a united country: You are amazing.
There will be people that will witness your pain in the words you speak and still hit back with an opinion that differs from yours, but do not let their words bring you down. You have the stamina to fight through your trauma, along with the ability to show the country your point of view.
I know high school will never be the same for you—that life will never feel the same as it once did—but I hope you are still able to experience some beautiful, normal moments.
Maybe there will be a dance where you finally get to kiss your crush.
Maybe you’ll cry a little on the day of graduation, because you found yourself growing up with the people seated beside you. I hope you have something good to look back on one day, that your memories aren’t clouded with what that man did to you.
The country—the world—is here to stand for you, to watch you grow into the beautiful people that we know you are bound to be.
