As I listened to Mark Barden tell his story, tears welled up in my eyes. Barden’s young son, Daniel, was a victim of the 2012 Sandy Hook shootings in Connecticut.
As a dad, I looked at the pictures of the first-grader, I thought about my son, Brian. In a few short weeks, he’ll graduate from college. He’s grown up now and ready to interview for jobs and begin a career, something Daniel won’t have the chance to do.
But I thought more about why Barden was in town — to give some special students at Columbia High School an award. Members of the SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere) Club and the Paw Print staff, the school newspaper, received the award for a video they produced titled “Say Something.” The video brings a human side to the dilemmas students face and the pressures they are under.
Lately, so much has been said about school shootings, suicides, depression, anxiety and so many other issues that young people face.
The CHS students made it a point to say that sometimes all it takes is one kind word to help make a fellow student’s day. The idea is that maybe if we were all a bit friendlier, some of the tragedies might be averted. While this might not be true in all of the cases of suicides and schools shootings, it’s something to think about.
Toni Floyd, the CHS faculty member in charge of the SAVE Club, used an example of a freshman girl who is a positive role model for everyone. The young lady constantly tells her classmates and teachers that they are beautiful. Floyd said some days, like everyone, she needs that message.
That story again brought tears to my eyes as I thought about my late wife, Amelia, a Columbia High grad herself. Principal Sheila Burbridge talked to me about her personality and the love she showed everyone. At CHS, she is remembered as a positive influence – one of those, who like the students receiving the awards, tried to make a difference in people’s lives.
As I talked with Barden after the presentation, we talked about the mission of his group, the Sandy Hook Promise, which is to prevent such tragedies from occurring. It’s about helping to identify at-risk individuals, mental health and wellness and gun safety. The CHS students simply want a happy, healthy and safe environment in their school. It’s something we older folks always had as kids.
I turned 55 the other day, and recently I had the chance to sit down with an old friend – a guy I’ve know since we were first-graders, just like Daniel Barden was. It seems that we grew up in much more innocent times – or did we?
You see, violence has always been there. Mental illness has always been there. But some of the societal pressures haven’t. I grew up in Kent, Ohio, and the year we’re talking about for first grade was 1970.
On May 4, 1970, some 48 years ago, a moment in history happened minutes from Walls Elementary School, where my buddy John and I were students. National Guardsmen opened fire on a protest at Kent State University, which was where both of our fathers taught. Violence struck fear into our young hearts. Like the survivors of Sandy Hook, we, the children of Kent State, have a very different view of things. I can still recall armored personnel carriers in the streets of my hometown. Something no first-grader should have to endure.
The two situations were very different, yet the trauma to all involved was very real. Students like the members of the SAVE Club are there to help all of us. It’s a positive note in an increasingly negative world.
Here’s a hearty congratulations to the group that produced the video and their teachers. You are making a difference in the world. Good job, Columbia High School. Your community is proud of you — and Amelia would be, too.
Mark Rogers is managing editor of The Columbian-Progress. Reach him at news@columbianprogress.com.
