It is hard to know what to do and how to act with a sensitive subject like death in high school. If you are lucky enough, you will not need to know what to do or how to act with that type of tragedy until later in life. If you are not so lucky, you will have to grow up fast. In the past year, the students at my high school, including myself, have done a lot of growing up.

I am lucky enough to go to a school that is so filled with spirit and kind students and teachers that I look forward to attending school every day. I even find myself missing school during the summer.

Last year when I was a sophomore, we had a tough year. We lost important members of our staff, student body and alumni. Everyone in the community felt the loss of each individual. For a long time, I felt as if the whole school was stuck in a funk.

When summer finally rolled around, everyone was in need of a break. I figured when school got back in, it would be a clean slate and we would have better luck in the new year. Sadly, I was wrong.

We went back to school this year on August 1, which in my eyes, is too early. Did we even have a summer? Anyway, the first week seemed to be moving in slow motion. On Thursday, during second period, an announcement came over the loudspeaker calling for varsity soccer girls to have a meeting. Word soon got around that we had lost yet another special and bright alumni. The school quickly slipped back into the funk we were in the previous year as if we never came out of it.

There are a couple of things that you are not told when you lose someone. For example, you are not told how hard it is to accept that they are gone or how hard it is to carry on without them. You are not told that the only person you will want to talk to after they are gone is them. And you are not told how to comfort your friends and teachers when they have to show up to school the next day as if nothing ever changed. These are all things that you learn but should never have to.

The best method I have found for comforting others is showing you care. Give them the option to turn to you if they need someone. Open your ears and close your mouth if they want to talk about it. Sit with them in a quiet room if they want company. Just be there for them.

As cliché as it might sound, tragedy has brought our community closer. We have come together in times of need and condolence to be a support system for one another. I am so honored to be a part of a school that cares so much for one another.