Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; February 14, 2018. 14 students, 3 staff members. Murdered.

Sandy Hook Elementary School; December 14, 2012. 20 children, 6 staff members. Killed.

Virginia Tech; April 16, 2007. 32 deaths. Massacred.

Columbine High School; April 20, 1999. 12 students, 1 teacher. Gone.

I have just named four school shootings that have happened from 1999-2018. Just writing those statistics, not even all of the school shootings that have happened in this time frame (because that would sadly take too long), gave me chills. Students and teachers whose lives did not deserve to end now have become statistics. Students and teachers that were living their lives one day, gone in a matter of seconds. Students and teachers that were murdered by someone with a gun, a gun they probably shouldn’t have had access to in the first place. Students and teachers who were at school, doing what the rest of us do on a daily basis, were taken from the world without a chance to even fight back.

They weren’t given the chance to fight back and make change, but we can. And I will.

Something has sparked with students and this time, we aren’t giving up. Adults in the political world always give those that are suffering their “thoughts and prayers.” However, this time, that is not good enough. What we want is to be taken seriously. What we want is change.

So on Saturday, March 24^th, I will be marching with those who are also seeking change. “We’re going to go to our nation’s Capital, town squares, city centers, rural roads, and village parks to demand our lives be defended. We’re going to ask every “leader” what they’re doing to protect us.” I can’t make it to Washington D.C. where the main march will be, where many of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas students will be marching. But I will be marching in Boston. There will be marches held all over the country, and even outside of the country. Everyone there is searching for change. They want better for our country. I want better for our country.

I will be marching to show my support for those that have lost their lives. I will be marching as a teacher, a teacher that does not want to be afraid when she goes into school. I will be marching as a teacher that knows carrying guns around the school is harmful rather than helpful. I will be marching because my students’ lives are more important than the right to buy AR-15s.

I will be marching.

Will you?

https://marchforourlives.com/walkouts