Columbine. Virginia Tech. Sandy Hook and now Stoneman Douglas. Wednesday, March 14, will mark one month since the shooting that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The shooting claimed the lives of 17 innocent people.

Since the horrible shooting, schools across the country have followed a movement to prevent these events from happening and to emphasize gun laws. This movement is called “March For Our Lives.” This was started by MSDHS students: Cameron Kasky, David Boggs and Emma Gonzalez. They have called for swift changes in regards to guns by Florida representatives in Washington D.C. To mark the one month since the attack, Kaneland High School will be honoring the victims of the shooting as well.

Members of Student Advisory Board invited a few members of Student Council, as well as Krier executive staff members, to discuss how KHS could participate. The group decided it was best to make the sole purpose of this to not be political but to show support to the students and staff and their families by remembering the events of February 14, with the support of teachers, students and Kaneland Administration.

The best way to honor the victims is to leave politics out of it. Yes, there may be different opinions on this, and you have the right to them, but for us to make a political statement diminishes the true purpose of how we are choosing to honor them.   They were students like you and me, they were brothers, sons, daughters and sisters, who had their futures to look forward to and the least we can do is remember the kinds of people they were and what mark they left on society.

The March 14 event will show everyone in our community that we are a culture of caring. By participating, this shows people that students want to stand with Parkland in the best possible way. The administrative team has been extremely supportive throughout this process and have given students a platform and creative outlet. During one of our recent assemblies, Principal Jill Maras posed a question for us about honoring the victims by doing random acts of kindness. Her question was: “What’s your 17?”  Let this be one of your 17 reasons.

Following Columbine, there was a movement of kindness started called “Rachel’s Challenge,” this movement honors victim Rachel Scott, who was the first victim in that shooting. Unfortunately, now that our country is mourning again, it’s not too late to start change. This is only the beginning. Everyone across the country should ask themselves what their 17 reasons are for making the world better place.