A Student's View on the Virginia Tech Shootings
Published April 19, 2007
The Virginia Tech shooting was the worst shooting on a school campus in U.S. history. It doubled the shootings of Columbine. This is what I've heard on the news for the past forty-eight hours and this is why I'm worried sick.
School shootings are nothing new. They happen all the time. Last week, I was off school for spring break. I went on a cruise to Mexico. I made friends there. We were talking about violence on campus when they both told me that there had been school shootings on campus. The bizarre thing was that they acted like it was no big deal.
I'm a sophomore in a High School in California. It's a public school, but rated second best in the state, academically. It's an open campus, so virtually everyone can get on campus. I remember one time there was a group of students visiting from a high school from a neighboring community. They were shocked our campus was open.
As result of the shootings, we had a twenty-minute discussion in gym about what to do in case of a gunman on campus. Our signal is an administer on the P.A. saying, "Mr. Blue, please report to the office." At this point, all teachers are instructed to lock the doors and not open them for any reason.
This is a problem. I have gym second period. If the gunman is on campus, we can't get into the classrooms nearby. We could get in the locker room or the gym, but if we are on the football field (not to mention we can't even hear the PA system on the football field), we would have no cover. If in P.E., my life expectancy decreases drastically. This scares me.
If Mr. Blue arrives while one is in the bathroom, they will not be allowed in to any classroom. They would have to wait outside a classroom, in plain sight, for an administrator to arrive. By that time, they'd be dead. I don't feel comfortable putting my safety at risk, hoping I get lucky and have him turn the corner.
My friends and I were talking about what classes we would like being stuck in and which ones we wouldn't be safe in. Some places, like the library, have windows that you can break and crawl though. What would happen if I were at lunch? Almost everyone eats outside. He could kill hundreds in minutes.
The problem is not that the school isn't one hundred percent safe. Let's face it; nothing is one hundred percent safe. It upsets me that this one little lovesick freak has had such a big impact on my life when I'm hundreds of miles away.
This one student (who, by the way, looks like my best friend) had relationship troubles. Let's face it, we all do. Do I bring a gun to school?
This man was selfish. This one 23-year-old has caused so many people pain, shock, and hurt. I bet his family is scarred for life. This news story has...there are no words to describe it. It makes me feel uneasy.
The headline has done one good thing. I am so grateful for my life. These people were innocent. They did nothing wrong. Virginia Tech is a school. If our schools aren't safe, what is? I just hope all the families and friends of the victims will be able to move on.
God bless them all.
Maddy is 16 and just ended her junior year of high school. She is an active writer for her school paper and excels in AP classes. She has a twin and loves the Pittsburgh Steelers. She is constantly distracted by everything from boys to, well, uh... boys. In her spare time, she writes novels. She has a radio show (part of the BC Radio Network) on Wednesdays at 5 PM available at BlogTalkRadio.
- A Student's View on the Virginia Tech Shootings
- Published: April 19, 2007
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Culture
- Filed Under: Culture: Education, Culture: Crime and Court, Culture: Society
- Writer: CallmeMaddy
- CallmeMaddy's BC Writer page
- CallmeMaddy's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
Maddy,
Our sons go to school in Jerusalem, Israel. One is a 10th grader, the other is in 11th grade. My wife works in J-lem. But we live in a small village in Samaria. Every time we get on the bus, any bus, we take our lives in our hands. We are not armed, but we do have a Travellers' Prayer. It ain't much, that prayer, but with it, we call upon the Creator of the Universe to protect us.
Seeing as we do not have guns on us all the time, that prayer just has to do... But I believe, that in the final analysis, it is better than any gun we could carry.
Bliffle, you are really annoying me.
Maddy, you don't need a gun and while I can't tell you not to worry, as that would be pointless, you aren't as helpless as you think.
I think the real lesson here is to listen to our (your) instincts. When something doesn't seem right to you, like you just get a weird feeling about a person, you need to speak up, tell someone who will listen and take you seriously.
We are so afraid to speak up, or get involved in other people's lives that this kind of crazy person can easily be left to fall through the cracks.
I think that's the lesson we must learn, trust your instincts, speak up.
And as much as you worry about yourself, I bet your mom and dad worry even more. You can trust me on that one. So let us parents do the worrying, you do the studying and having fun.
ain't it amazing how much bliffle sounds like cho?
Yes, Maddy, Dawn is right.
The odds of soemthing like that happening in your school are unbelievably small. Incredibly small. Don't let that idiot freak have any effect on you at all. Put it out of your mind and enjoy high school.
By the way, for a 15-year-old, you're already a fine writer. Keep reading and writing.
"annoying"!
Now isn't that just the kind of whimpoid weasel word that a looney lefty lily-livered liberal loser would come up with?!
Come on! Stand up like a MAN with a word for your furious frustration!
Stick your head out so I can blow it off with a patented double-ought buckshot load 100% manly irate blast from My Big Gun!
Maybe you should go to school on that Nalle guy! Now there's a honcho I could enjoy trading loads with. And don't get the wrong idea, you fag-loving weirdos and malcontents! Be an American!
Dawn and Maddy, ignore bliffle. He's like one of those little yapping dogs with all bark and no bite. Yawn.
Look Bliffle,
I am a republican. I support the war on Iraq, I'm against abortion, and for capital punishment.
So what if I don't want a gun man on campus? I can't carry a gun to school, k? It's against the rules. I'm not even suppose to bring a bloody IPod.
School is a place to learn, not to hear about INNOCENT VITICIMS losing their life.
Get a life.
Maddy
Way to kick it Maddy! And you and I both agree on two of the above three things you listed! That's cool.
Add your comment, speak your mind
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Get over it, kid. Toughen up. Get a weapon and learn how to use it. I suggest a magna-ported .357: helluva buck, but doesn't throw your aim off for a followup volley.
This society demands that every citizen drive hard for the greatest personal gain and there are bound to be losers, bad losers. If you want to be prepared to be a winner then you must be ready to execute any loser that sticks his head up and challenges you.
"God bless them all."
Don't be a wuss! What are you, some lily-livered bleeding heart liberal? Communist, maybe? Praise the lord and pass the ammunition. Now there's a god you can get behind!