On March 14, I stood across the street as my middle-schooler, along with most (if not all) of her classmates, participated in the school walkout to honor the 17 students killed in the Parkland High School shooting.
Watching those young people emerge from their building at 10 a.m. in absolute silence and gather together in a rough circle for a long 17 minutes was much more moving and powerful than I expected. We throw those words around – “powerful” and “moving” – but I see in these children a bright light and hope that has been hard to find lately. They have more power together than they realize, and they have the ability to use it for good, to change the very fabric of our society.
I also want to say a huge thank you to Mountain Middle School for supporting these kids while balancing practical safety considerations, and for giving them the opportunity to learn about using their voices (even when that means remaining totally silent).
We grown ups will be reaping the benefits of this lesson for years to come. And to you kids: I am so, so proud. Now take this power and use it to create a world you want to live in.
Shanan Orndorff
Durango
