With so much going on in the world, it’s important to take notice of what the students at West Brunswick are thinking about when it comes to what’s going on in today’s news. We all are aware of the risks we take every time we leave our home, but we never take into consideration that something might actually happen. Who would think your everyday place like school could be so dangerous?
That’s what the students of Evergreen High, North Little Rock High, Pinetops High, and unfortunately many more around the world weren’t thinking about the morning they left for school. The rate of student exposure to school shootings has almost tripled since 1999, but throughout the years, it has seen its most growth between 2020 and 2024, and many people wonder why. One factor for the school shooting rate going up after 2020 is COVID-19.
“It’s just setting a bad example and a bad influence,” said sophomore Vanessa Williams. “People are acting wrongly, and it’s gonna make teenagers want to act wrong, too.”
2020 was a year that caused a major social disruption in our everyday lives that was very hard to deal with, which led to declining mental health for many individuals worldwide. After being out of school all year and returning back in 2021, many schools weren’t prepared for what was going to happen. Students were in a slump all year, and now they had to adjust to being in school all over again.
It’s important to be aware of your own mental health, and those around you. It’s shown that most people who commit school shootings struggle with mental health, so it’s extremely important to be self aware.
“At this point, it’s like if it’s not if it’s gonna happen, it’s when it’s gonna happen,” said Annelis Varron.
There is a lot on our phones today that we, as young adults, should not be able to see. The internet goes on forever, and we have access to all of it right at our fingertips. People have access to make online threats, view illegal footage and purchase from illegal marketplaces. As students, we should not have such easy access to these resources that can cause so much harm.
“I think it’s a lot of violence that we’re seeing on our phones,” said junior Chazney Williams. “It might be changing people’s perspectives about certain things.”
A school shooting is one of the most heinous crimes a person can commit, and we as students should be able to walk into school without worrying for our own safety. It’s our responsibility as the future for our country to make sure that we are making the right decisions for ourselves and those around us, because every action has a consequence.
