A currently unidentified type of firework went off outside during the eighth graders’ advisory yesterday. The firework was set off by a group of students, and although the explosion was purposeful, there was a mix of students encouraging and trying to deescalate the situation. The students continued to mess with the lighter and the firework that was brought from one of the kids’ homes. When lit, it created what was described by 8th grader Angie Perez, as a large, at least more than six foot tall, ashy and cloudy explosion with orange specks of light coming out of it. Perez was an eye-witness of the fireworks. The explosion went off near the hanging tree, facing the tennis courts. The situation will and has been resolved between the students and the administration.
It seems just seconds after the firework was set off, multiple teachers came running to the explosion, ushering students out. Mr. Addington, an eighth grade English teacher and one of the aforementioned staff members, reported that the explosion initially seemed like a whistle, or some type of toy, but when he looked towards it he saw the explosion and, along with other teachers, immediately began trying to help. The students ran from the general area of the explosion, naturally, only a few staying behind to help the possibly injured. Quickly, the classes went back inside to advisory, waiting for the next period, and luckily no students seemed to have any major damages. Everyone seemed to move on with their day quickly, and contrary to many peoples worries there has been no official pause or ban on outside time or anything in that vein.
One common denominator within these testimonials are the emotions that rise in students and teachers alike. Multiple students including Liliana Navarro, Roux Kennedy, and Angie Perez along with teachers like Mr. Addington all felt fear and shock from what reportedly sounded like “a gunshot” to every one of them, and indefinitely many others. Although many students quickly realized it was a firework, many others called their parents out of fear, whether of gun violence, more explosions, or anything else. The discomfort that was forced on everybody outside that day isn’t fair, and it’s important to acknowledge that.
Everything we do, every move we make, makes a difference in the world and the people around us. We’ve all heard of the butterfly effect, when something small and unrelated makes a big impact on something, but sometimes it’s not that complicated. Sometimes we do things that will hurt, physically or emotionally, other people; and it’s our responsibility as people to take a step back before we act and to think about that impact.
