By Amira Alamin
Editor’s Note: Amira is currently a student at Nordonia High School and a member of the Digital Journalism and Sports Broadcasting Club
It isn’t every day that half of the Nordonia High School population decides internally that they’ll all promptly leave their 3rd period classes to participate in an assembly of civil disobedience, but today was no ordinary day. Students and student leaders organized a national school walkout on March 14th, all at coordinating times, to petition and assemble in remembrance of the 17 lives lost in Florida just weeks prior, and Nordonia was one of the many schools to participate. The walkout began around 9:30, when students from all classes left their 3rd period rooms and conjoined in the large gym, taking up almost the entire left side of the room. Senior Michael Dietzen started off his introduction to the assembly, and then followed words of hope and promise from many other guest speakers, including: senior Nick Kovaks, Karlie Accord and Ben Broshad; as well as juniors Jenna Jacofsky, and Dorian Nichols (and absent thoughts from Megan Alders).
While many students had varying political ideas and misunderstandings on the structure and compromise of what the walkout stood for, one theme seemed to shine through each students’ speeches: hope for change. Each student spoke about how important it was for all of us to heed what they said and turn it into fire power and comradery in such a tragic time period. They called for action from the student body, from the parents, from the internet, and from the members of our political office. While maybe their views couldn’t have been placed into a certain category, it was clear that they only wanted to see action being taken in order to keep schools safer and better educated. The school principal, Casey Wright, even added that he was “Very proud of [Nordonia’s] students”. And as a community, it was refreshing to see such powerful and courageous members of our generation come together and speak on behalf of those who couldn’t – further reminding us all that power rests in youth, and that a community like ours is ever present in the decisions of the up and coming world.
All Photos By Amira Alamin
