#NeverAgain: Interview with a survivor of the Florida School Shooting

Imagine yourself in History class, typing away furiously on your laptop. Imagine hearing the first ten shots ringing out right outside your classroom door, your heart sinking. Imagine exchanging one-second glances with your classmates for what may be the last time in your lives, and darting to the nearest corner to hide from the attacker.

Now imagine if all this was real.

America has been under the world spotlight for their infamous record of school shootings, out of which 8 have already taken place during the first 7 weeks of 2018. However, the Florida School Shooting has proven to be one that stands out from the rest and has even raised the prospects an upcoming crucial turning point for America. The amount of traction gained in the media and politics has been incredible, a majority of which can be attributed to the efforts of the students of MSD High School. Their choice of refusing to stay silent about what should be changed to prevent another tragedy from happening has sparked a new wave of gun control debate in America, which has taken over many social media and news platforms.

Meet Sid Fischer, a 17-year-old Junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The unimaginable happened to Sid and his class when their ordinary classroom turned into the third room that was targeted by attacker Nikolas Cruz on Wednesday, February 14, 2018. What was supposed to be a typical afternoon for the students turned out to be one of the world’s deadliest school shootings with a total of 17 fatally shot. NEWS managed to conduct a short interview with Sid, who very kindly agreed to answer our questions.

Q: You mentioned in one of your AMA replies that your school has conducted lockdown drills before. How seriously did you and your schoolmates take them? Has the tragedy changed your mind on lockdown drills and their efficiency in any way?

A: Me and my schoolmates wouldn't necessarily joke about drills but the difference between a drill and the real thing is tremendous. During a lockdown drill, we go into the corner and just wait until it's over but during the real situation you're thinking about a million things every second and it just isn't comparable whatsoever to a drill. The tragedy has definitely shifted my mindset on how serious the lockdown drills and fire drills are, as I'm sure it did to many of my other classmates.

Q: People tend to have trouble connecting or feeling that there is a need to prepare for a threat when they have never experienced a real situation like this before. Do you have any words for us, students in a country which has never experienced a school shooting before, with regards to the importance of preparedness?

A: It is SO important knowing how and what to do when reacting to something like this. When we first heard those shots outside of your classroom, everyone was scattering across the room without any real plans on where to go. If everyone in the room knew to come into the corner I was in, it's possible no one would have been injured or even killed (RIP Nick and Helena). Find any objects that can possibly shield you in the event that the perpetrator enters the classroom and make sure if he doesn't come in, that you are not visible whatsoever from the spot they are in. Please, please, PLEASE take your drills seriously and make sure you actively think about what you will do if it comes to it.

Q: Do you have any plans as to what you will be doing with your experience as a survivor to prevent another tragedy like this from happening as far as possible? Is there any way your community or even us, international friends, can help you and your school?

A: My first plan was to let my story out so people could try to relate to one of the students actually in a life or death situation like this so they can realize how serious something like this is, and I finished that mission by posting my AMA1 and answering questions. I am unsure on what I will be taking part of in regards to marches, protests, etc. but I have been trying my hardest to make it to every fundraiser and event that is raising awareness for this horrific event. One thing that could help our school from communities outside of ours is to just make sure you have the correct security measures and plans to make sure something like this NEVER occurs again. To add, if you see anyone being bullied or pushed around, LET SOMEONE KNOW!

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