Will I Be Next?

As a member of Generation Z, there are a set of unspoken rules, just like there might be for any other generation. Our parents instill beliefs in us, manners even, to morph our actions in the world. These teachings impact every aspect of our life, and distinguishes the way we treat others. Rules of this kind are, of course, mostly positive, and they are meant to help us with the turmoils of life. Recently, a video depicting another set of unspoken rules drifted onto my feed, and made me contemplate how they might have made their way into the minds of Generation Z. After the Oxford High School shooting in Michigan, a video of a class protecting themselves from said shooter went viral, refusing to allow him to enter the classroom despite his claims to be a member of the sheriff's department. How brilliant those students were to be aware of the danger. How sad it was that they instinctively knew. And yet, I have concluded that this would have happened anywhere, at any high school. 

We see shootings on the news monthly. As a mode of survival, we have all imagined ourselves going through the motions of said threats, in order to protect ourselves and our friends. No one has had to tell us what to do, instead we have simply concluded the outcome by our own means. Is this a blessing in disguise? Or the sick knowledge that we as students have even had the thought about the possibility of being deceived, of accidentally falling into the wolves’ trap. Because we know that no one is here to protect us, we have all simultaneously run through a game plan in our minds, thinking of every possible scenario, over… and over… and over… Not to sound dramatic, of course, the possibility of blowing this situation out of proportion is one I try to avoid. 

Although, is it not worth that? 

The question must be answered, when? When will governments protect those who cannot protect themselves? When will governments stop allowing weapons of mass killing to find themselves in the hands of human beings? When it is too late? 

It is already far too late. Another month, another student, another family has lost their child, another child has lost their friend, and another nation loses their citizen. Every week we wonder, “Will I be next?” Everyday we have to remind ourselves of how to survive. And everyday, we must tell our loved ones, “I love you,” wondering if it will be our last.