On March 14, students across the nation participated in a national walkout in honor of the 17 victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on February 14. The Women’s March Youth called students to walk out at 10 a.m. for 17 minutes, one minute for every life lost in Parkland the month prior.

The hashtag “#ENOUGH” began trending to coincide with the message that school shootings need to stop. The high school participated in paying respects to those lives lost. There was a special schedule, giving students two options in regards to how they could choose to acknowledge these events. The administration chose to fit this programming into the schedule, as they wanted the school to join together in a respectful and meaningful way.

“The intended purpose of the March 14 schedule was to provide school-based activities that paid tribute to the victims of the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School while promoting unity, positive social change, and belonging in our school,” Principal Bill Silva said.

Student speeches and the reading of the names of the Parkland shooting victims were delivered in the school gymnasium. A program displaying videos in regards to student activism was shown in the auditorium as another option. Alternatively, around 75 students opted to walk outside around the campus and to town hall, with signs and chants demanding for change in gun laws and regulation.

In the gymnasium, junior Kumar Darsh spoke as the president of the school’s key club, organizing a banner to be sent to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that was signed by students in the cafeteria. Junior Ashley Dummitt gave a speech focusing on unity and how to move forward. Following this, seniors Chris DiLullo and Jocelyn Bohlman read the names of all of the Parkland victims.

Seniors Julia Conturso, Maggie McGuire, and Sasha Goldblatt took the initiative in planning the walkout. They believed that this was important to do because it is an issue that potentially affects students lives.

“We believed that as youth, our voices matter, especially for an issue that involves something as prominent in our lives as school safety. We made the choice to voice our political thoughts on the issue because of our strong beliefs and desire to see change,” Goldblatt said.

The walk paused when arriving at the town hall where McGuire and Goldblatt gave speeches, along with sophomore Sia Goel and senior Vaishnavi Kumbum.

“Today, we are kids. Tomorrow our siblings will come to the high school, and in the future our own kids will go through the same education system of America. They will also face the same problems we are facing right now; they will face the same fears we are right now,” Goel said in her speech.

This entire event lasted for the 17 minutes, and then classes resumed as normal.

“I believe that it is important to recognize that shootings are happening, and we should honor and remember the victims in a meaningful way. As students and young citizens, it is important that we stand together and speak out for what we believe in,” senior Shannon Ohannessian said.