Our Wildwood, Summer 2018, Volume 43

STUDENT PERSPECTIVE by Maddie M. ’19 and Ryder M. ’19

Enough!

that know what to do, protect you, and love you. But standing at the front of the crowd knowing that they weren’t there made us feel unshielded. When the cars first started honking, doubts raced through our minds. We looked around trying to see what we did wrong or how we had failed. At that moment, a friend reached out her hand and whispered, “They’re cheering.” At that moment, everything focused. What we were doing was right, we were being seen, and we could make a difference. The feeling of defenselessness turned into security, the feeling of solidarity into community, and a sense of pride rose up in us, knowing that we didn’t have to rely on our parents’ shields to protect us. The energy of our rally at Stoner Park was unlike anything we had felt before. Watching the club leaders educating the crowd about gun violence, seeing peers call government officials to demand change, and hearing the crowd chanting and the speakers crying out filled us with a sense of hope and determination. Yes, the world can suck. Yes, it can seem like the odds are stacked against you. And yes, it can feel like you are alone in your outrage, shock, and disappointment. But seeing your peers standing with you, hearing them chant beside you, and knowing that they are with you is the most empowering feeling in the world. When you see that tragedy has happened to teenagers like you, it seems like everything is suddenly out of your control and that everything is too big for

A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THE National School Walkout on March 14, the leaders of Wildwood’s Human Rights Club came to Student Council to ask what we were planning to do on the day of the walkout. The impassioned students from the club implored us to take action against violence in schools. We knew the cause was more than worthy, but initially we wanted to say, “No, someone else do it,” because we knew it was going to be a lot of work. But they were looking to us for leadership, so we stepped up. There were some restless nights for those of us coordinating the event. peaceful protest because you know that if the event crashes and burns, it is all on your shoulders. Maybe you didn’t send enough follow-up emails; you didn’t get enough student involvement; you failed at rallying the crowd, and now they’re acting disrespectful to the lives lost in Parkland; a disaster occurs, and you weren’t ready for it; someone gets hurt; angry people bring a gun to the march; we lose a kid. It’s terrifying thinking of all the possibilities. But with the overwhelming support of the Wildwood administration, two weeks later our vision for the walkout came true. Walking at the front of the march, we felt vulnerable. We were exposed to the world and questions like, How are we being seen? Is this right? Will we make a difference? Are we safe? Growing up you always have your parents beside you, your valiant knights in shining armor It’s stressful to be the point people organizing a three-and-a-half-hour

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