Today marks one month. One month since 17 lives were lost at my school. One month since Valentine’s Day changed forever. One month since high school students became the voice of a revolution. One month since I had to wipe the tears of my students. One month since I’ve slept well. One month since my life was normal.
Today was also #NationalWalkoutDay. I’m in NYC for the Columbia Scholastic Press Association journalism conference, so I wasn’t at MSD to walkout with my students. I was teaching a session at CSPA at 10. The students in attendance were asked if they wanted to walkout. They all wanted to stay and talk, and listen to the presentation. There were hundreds of students in attendance at CSPA who walked out onto the streets of New York City. There were millions of people across the country who walked out in solidarity with us. I can’t believe how much love and support we’re getting. It’s overwhelming.
I taught a session at 10 with my yearbook rep, Veronika. We spoke about using social media to promote your yearbook. I also taught a session at 11 alone, about marketing your publication. In both sessions, when I introduced myself, everyone listened a little closer and seemed to pay attention a little more. I hope the sessions were well-attended because of the subject matter, but I can’t help feel that it might have been because of the novelty of my “celebrity” status. At the end of the second session, four students from a school in South Carolina came up to me. They told me that I’m an inspiration for them, and that they follow me on Twitter. I thanked them, and told them that I’m just doing my job. They said that the work the students at my school are doing is changing lives. I was humbled and flattered.
After the conference, we headed to see “School of Rock.” The show was fantastic and the children were amazing! The talent they have is unreal. We were invited backstage to meet the cast, take pictures, ask questions, etc. As excited as we were to meet them, they were equally excited to meet us. They praised us for the work we’re doing, and were so gracious through dozens of pictures.
Dinner followed at Juniors, and then some light shopping in Times Square.
It was a great day, with many emotional ups and downs.