On Feb. 14, a horrific mass shooting took place at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. 

17 victims lost their lives and dozens were injured due to the cruel intentions of an individual who wanted to inflict pain upon others.

It has now been almost one month since the shooting. 

You may have heard from all the news buzz about this traumatic event and the protests taking place nationally.

Perhaps, you may have wondered why I have waited so long to speak my voice on this topic since it pertains to me.

My voice. My safety.

How my country’s education system is no longer safe.

How this country isn’t safe. How this country hasn’t been safe for a long time.

The reason as to why I’ve waited so long to voice my opinion on this topic is for multiple reasons.

First, I wanted to wait until the news calmed down.

Second, I wanted to give respect to those who were grieving over the shooting.

Third, I was scared to voice my opinion in fear that someone would inflict pain at my school. 

Finally, I was shocked to hear that another school shooting occurred. I was shocked to find out that this was the eighteenth shooting since the beginning of this year. 

People… it has only been two months into the start of this year..

What is wrong with our society? What is wrong with this world? 

I’m sick of all the shootings. I’m sick of all the killing.

I’m sick of people fearing for their lives.

Especially kids.

Kids shouldn’t have to fear going to school. Kids shouldn’t have to experience the death of their classmates. Most important, kids should not have to fight for their safety. 

You are the adults that run our country. You are supposed to take care of us. 

You are supposed to make us feel safe.

That has been your biggest responsibility since the day your children were born, yet you have failed us.

Our children are dying and that is your responsibility.

My responsibility is to educate myself for the workforce someday. My responsibility is to learn how to take care of you and your generation years from now.  My responsibility will be to educate the future generations on how to run our society. 

How am I gonna do that when this society’s focus is consumed on shootings.

Shootings. Death. War. Bombs. Threats. Pain.

That’s all we know. 

That’s all we’ll ever know if it doesn’t stop. 

How am I supposed to teach the future generations on how to take care of our world if we can’t take care of it as it is.

We don’t take care of our people well enough and it’s time to take some ownership in that.

I am angry.

My peers are agree. The teenagers of this nation are angry.

Violence needs to end. Shootings needs to end.

There will be no more death from guns 

This country doesn’t just need to change. 

This country will change. 

Mark my words.

Change starts now.

Note: This topic will be discussed in next week’s column