10 Things Youre Probably Familiar With If You Grew Up In The Era Of School Shootings

I went to public school from kindergarten through high school. I lived in a wealthy middle class neighborhood in a republican dominated state. I don’t think people understand what it’s like to grow up constantly being worried about getting shot.

Practicing school shooting drills more than any other drill.

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My schools always had fire drills and earthquake drills about once or twice a year. We had active shooter drills probably once every month or two.

Being more concerned over getting shot than burning

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A school shooting occurred where the shooter pulled the fire alarm before shooting up the school. A week later my schools fire alarm went off, everyone sat still. We had to wait for the principal to come over the intercom and tell us it was NOT a shooter and we were safe to evacuate.

Classrooms with two doors always having one door locked, and classroom door always having fast lock mechanisms.

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This was particularly annoying if you were late because you had to walk to the other door. But it was necessary because teachers only had time to lock one door should a shooting occur.

Being painfully aware of all exits, hiding places, and blunt objects.

Even now, any public place I go into (movie theater, college campus, grocery store, work, etc.) I know the exit points. I think about places to hide and I think about what would make good weapons. I remember a few years back a teacher went viral for keeping a bucket of rocks in her classroom to throw at a shooter. People made fun of it, but me and my classmates all actually hoped we could get buckets of rocks in classrooms. Our teachers and parents told us we could just throw our backpacks if need be….

Learning what gunshots sound like in a school

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One of my high school memories is that of hiding under a desk during a shooter drill and the school playing shooting noises over the intercom. (In case you’re wondering, gunshots are actually relatively quiet and sound kinda like popping if you’re not in the immediate vicinity of it)

Learning what to do if a shooting does happen and they apprehend the shooter

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We were given five gallon buckets that had snacks and first aid kits inside because even if the shooter is apprehended, chances are you’ll be left in your classroom for hours until police secure the school. The five gallon bucket was meant to be used as a toilet in the situation. When police do come, they escort classroom by classroom and usually having you either hold hands or put hands on shoulders as you leave. They used to show videos on it.

Learning the difference between lock outs and lock downs.

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I have mentioned this to older coworkers and they always get confused. Lock outs are when there’s a potential threat outside. Everyone locks their doors but class continues as normal inside the class. Lockdowns are when the threat are in the school and you lock the doors, turn out the lights, and hide.

Everyone 25 and under has a shooting or lockdown story.

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My senior year of high school, four different kids got arrested for planning to shoot up the school. My brother went to a different high school, they had lockouts every other week for a while. My college friends have siblings who survived shootings. It’s normal now.

Flinching every time there’s a popping sound

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Once in junior high, there were balloons in the hallway and a bunch popped all at once. We all flinched and the teacher ran to lock the door, before realizing it was only balloons.

Being aware of all exits, hiding places, and blunt objects.

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I still scan for exits and hiding spots every time I’m in a new public place. In school, I remember desperately wanting something to defend ourselves with. A few years ago, a teacher when viral for keeping a bucket of rocks in the classroom to throw at a shooter. The internet roasted her, but me and my classmates all actually wanted rocks in the classroom. Just something to defend ourselves with. Most adults just told us we could throw our backpacks if need be…

Being painfully aware that your life doesn’t mean that much to anyone who could do something to save it.

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Thoughts and prayers doesn’t feel particularly comforting when you’re the one at risk. Even school admin felt a bit uncaring. Once we had a school wide assembly, and we later found out a kid had been arrested just before the assembly with plans to shoot it up. They let the assembly go on as planned BEFORE they knew if he had been detained or not. Additionally, hearing family members and politicians argue against gun control really felt like they were choosing guns over your life.