Resiliency

Yesterday, tragedy struck my home state of Nevada.  No one was prepared for yet another school shooting.  No one was prepared for it to happen in Sparks, Nevada. 

Yet, here we are, a day after the shooting, showing our resiliency.  Sparks Middle School will not be holding classes for the rest of the week, but next week they will be back in the swing of things.  They will continue to make education a priority, and maybe educate more about the effects of bullying, or whatever caused that student to become filled with so much anger.  They will remember, but they will continue to move forward.

Some of the students who attend Sparks MS are a part of Dean's Future Scholars (DFS), and so are a part of GEAR UP.  Those students will continue to move forward and make college a priority.  Other GEAR UP students from Traner and Vaughn Middle Schools were scheduled to come to the University of Nevada, Reno, today for a field trip.  Although there was talk of cancelling the trip, it was not cancelled, and these students will still be able to step onto UNR's campus.  For some students, this may be the first time they have stepped foot on this campus, even though they only live 10 minutes away. 

Maybe the tragic events of yesterday will give other students courage to stand up against bullies, and to help those who are in need.  Maybe the tragic events of yesterday will give others hope that their future can be brighter if they only reach out for help when they need it.  Maybe the tragic events of yesterday will make us all better people in order to avoid another tragedy.

Whatever happens to us in life, we can be resilient.  We can choose to keep moving forward even when life trips us up. 

I hope that the families who lost loved ones are comforted, and that the staff and students and Sparks MS can keep on keeping on.  My thoughts and prayers are with them all.