hitting home

I debated posting this or not. It's not a happy post. I decided to post it because I know I won't sugar-coat things with you. I'm not that kind of a person. I also want to capture this moment for you for when it matters.

There was a car accident around 2 a.m. Sunday morning involving 5 students from Holt High School, the school I teach at. One was an alumni and 4 were current students. Two kids were killed instantly. One is in critical condition at the hospital. The driver just had bruising and is now under arrest. The 5th kid also just had bruising. She hasn't returned to school yet. Rumors abound about what they were doing. The cops have determined alcohol was involved and that's part of the arrest.

All I keep thinking about is what we'll tell you when you're in high school. Your dad and I were raised in different houses where alcohol was treated differently, yet we still came out with the same opinions of using alcohol while we were in high school -- mostly the fact that we didn't. I've talked to students I respect and who do the right thing about what their parents talked to them about. I've talked to other teachers who are now parents and what their parents told them while they were in high school. I don't think I have any answers yet except to keep talking about it while you're growing up. The thing I do want to get in your head is that regardless of what decisions you end up making as a teenager, if you find yourself in a situation where you are unable to drive yourself home due to choices you made earlier, you call me or your dad. I don't care what time it is or how far we have to drive. That night there will be no questions asked. The next day we'll talk about it, but I want to make sure you have a next day.

Tonight was a candle light vigil for the students. My friend Brenda and I went. I was ok supporting students and being there for them. I was ok until I saw the mother of one of the girls who was killed. She wasn't crying. She was holding it together, saying, "We'll just keep talking about her and remembering her." That's when I lost that. I don't ever want to be put through that. I hope you never have to be put through that as a student. There was so much hurt and pain I saw in students tonight that I want you to never have to experience that. There was a lot of love there too, but it is awful that it takes an event like that for kids to be real with each other and show their love for each other. I hope we can do right by you in all ways.

We love you!