Monday morning as I pulled into school something was immediately different, starting with the flag at half mass. The entire student body and faculty seemed a little more solemn, and the excitement of the approaching break seemed not so important anymore. Things were much quieter, not silent, but quieter. I sat down in my first period class and my teacher immediately brought up the shooting. Some were angry, others were sad, but everyone was confused. The most commonly used punctuation mark of the day was definitely a question mark, most of the time following "why?". Why? It's a good question. One that no one can seem to find an answer to. No matter how many clues we get, none of us will really know "why?" At least for myself, any answers that the police or newscasters give me will not suffice. It is difficult to decide what to do next, if there is anything to do. Every time I see a young child, or pass my local elementary school, my heart aches.  As much as I wish I could turn back time and somehow prevent this from happening and somehow save all those lives, I can't. And that made me angry for awhile. It made me angry that there is absolutely nothing I can do to make this any easier. I can't take away the hurt that so many mothers, fathers, sister, brothers, and friends are feeling. I can't change what has happened, none of us can. So after much deliberation I realized that what I could do is remember. I can remember the selfless acts of the sandy hook staff that saved many young lives. I can remember the 6 and 7  year olds that did incredibly brave things to save themselves and their classmates, things that I can't say I would be able to do as a 17 year old. I can remember the names. Not the name Adam Lanza, but the name Victoria Soto, or Emilie Parker, or Daniel Barden. I can remember that as much as my teachers can irritate me, they truly do care about me. I can remember that life is so fragile, and you never know when you or someone you love may leave this world. I can remember to love. To love my family, my friends, my classmates, teachers, neighbors, everyone, because they have all helped shape me into the person I am. So as hard as this is, and how angry and upset this has made me, I know that I can't change the past. I know in a few weeks that the media will stop reporting, and the investigation will wind down, but the pain and confusion of it all will live in our hearts forever. We cannot change the past, but we can better the future. 

God bless Newtown, God bless Sandy Hook. Too many lives were taken too soon. I bet heaven is a beautiful place to spend Christmas, and I know all those little souls are looking after all of you. 

by C in Baltimore